By Jim Clark

A police officer patrolling the Davis Square area last Saturday afternoon heard someone shout, “Fight!” in the vicinity of Statue Park and proceeded to the scene to investigate.

Upon arrival the officer reportedly spotted one woman striking another woman, as well as a man who was apparently attempting to intercede and break up the fight.

The officer immediately radioed for backup then separated the two women.

Upon questioning, the alleged victim told police that the woman who was hitting her, Jill Koerber, 34, became upset because she did get a cigarette lighter that she had asked for from the victim. She then began hitting the victim and her male companion, according to reports.

Koerber continuously shouted obscenities at the victim as the officers tried to question her, police said. The incident was unfolding in the middle of Statue Park, where many families with children were gathered at the time.

As Koerber repeatedly ignored the officers’ request to calm down and stay quiet, it was decided that she would be placed under arrest and charged with assault and disorderly conduct.

Koerber reportedly kicked and screamed as she was forcibly put into a patrol car for transport to booking, shouting, “You bitch! All this over a lighter!”