By Jim Clark

Police responded to reports of a fight in progress on Alewife Brook Pkwy. Sunday evening.

Upon arrival, officers were informed by witnesses that the fight had broken up just before they arrived on the scene. A patrol of the area was conducted in spite of the witness accounts.

A short time later, one patrol officer spotted two vehicles parked near the intersection of Alewife Brook Pkwy. and Boston Ave. The officer thought it possible that the two vehicles may have been involved in an accident and that their operators were engaged in exchanging identification and insurance information.

The officers approached the vehicles with the patrol cars blue lights engaged, at which time two males took off running away from the scene, according to reports.

A man exited one of the vehicles and told the officer that the men who ran away had smashed one of his car’s windows. His wife and three-year-old child were in the car at the time.

The officer made a quick search of the area but could not find the suspects. A call for backup was made and other officers joined in the search.

It was believed that the suspects may have been hiding in a residential back yard in the area, and they were eventually spotted there.

Once spotted by police, the two suspects reportedly ran towards the nearby U-Haul facility and hid among the trees and tall weeds.

Medford police were called in at that time to assist in the search for the suspects.

Clearly surrounded, the two suspects came out and surrendered themselves to officers.

In questioning the victim, police were told that someone had yelled at the two men and at that time one of them approached his car and punched a window, shattering the glass. The victim further stated that the incident had frightened his young son.

The two suspects, Andrew Johnson, 28, and William Murphy, 32, both of Arlington, were violently arguing with each other as they awaited transfer for booking, police said.

According to reports, Johnson was yelling at Murphy, telling him to keep his mouth shut. Additionally, Murphy reportedly objected to Johnson smiling as they were being arrested.

The two men physically tangled with one another at various timesand had to be separated by the police officers.

One of the officers sustained a kick to the thigh by Murphy during one of the physical struggles.

Both men were placed under arrest and charged with destruction of property over $250.

Murphy was additionally charged with assault and battery on a police officer.