By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to a Whipple St. location last Wednesday of reports of a motor vehicle break-in in progress.

The suspect, later identified as Jonathon Denning, of Boston, was armed with a knife and was attempting to flee on foot towards Davis Square on the bike path.

The victim, along with his sons, were following Denning on foot. The officers, while en route, were advised that the suspect and victim were outside the College Ave. T station.

Upon arrival, the officers exited their cruiser and ordered Denning to show him his hands. After being handcuffed, police asked Denning if he pulled a knife on anyone. Denning reportedly shouted that he was defending himself and that he wrapped the knife in a white towel and threw it in the barrel that was behind him.

Denning also reportedly stated that he had another knife in his waistband and several other knives in his backpack, along with two ounces of marijuana.

The officers retrieved the knives from the backpack and secured the knife from Denning’s waistband.

Denning was bleeding from a laceration on his hand which he suffered while trying to close his knife. Police also observed a laceration to the victim’s left hand.

The officers called in an EMS unit to have Denning and the victim evaluated for their injuries.

Officers retrieved the knife that was wrapped in the white towel from the barrel and placed it in an evidence box.

One of the victim’s sons reportedly told police that he had gone outside to his dad’s car when he observed Denning sitting in the driver’s seat. He said that he approached the vehicle and tried to hold the door shut and started yelling for his dad and brother to call the police.

Denning was reportedly able to crawl out of the vehicle from the passenger side. The son then grabbed onto Denning by his backpack and pinned him against the vehicle, causing Denning to drop several items which he had taken from the vehicle.

Denning reportedly broke free and opened a knife that he was holding in his hand. Denning swung the knife towards the victim, cutting him on his left hand. It was then that the chase to the T station occurred.

Denning was subsequently placed under arrest and on charges of felony daytime breaking and entering of a vehicle or boat, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a class C drug, and drug possession to distribute.