By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the area of Statue Park in Davis Square last Saturday on reports of an assault.

Upon arrival, officers were met by the reporting party who told them that she had been walking on College Ave. by the 7/11 store when she saw a woman known to her as Jill Koerber.

The reporting party said that she and Koerber had known each other since high school and that she had issues with Koerber regarding some family matters.

The reporting party said that Koerber initially walked by her but then stopped and began to yell at her. While Koerber was yelling, she allegedly punched the reporting party in the nose, at which time she backed away and told Koerber she was calling the police.

Koerber reportedly fled the area and the reporting party lost sight of her.

Responding units performed a search of the area but were unable to locate Koerber.

Sometime later, an officer spotted Koerber standing in front of Sligo’s Pub on Elm St. The officer radioed that he had found Koerber and was making his way to her location. A different officer made initial contact with Koerber and held her in front of the pub until the reporting officer arrived.

When the reporting officer arrived on scene he told Koerber that she had an active warrant out of Taunton District Court and that she was under arrest.

Koerber was told to turn around and place her hands behind her back but she ignored this. She reportedly began to start yelling at the reporting party, who had arrived on scene, and kept telling her that she was “all done.”

At this point, Koerber lunged at the reporting party but the officers were able to prevent her from making contact by grabbing her under the arms.

Koerber then reportedly began to thrash her arms and struck an officer multiple times in the chest and shoulder area.

Koerber was placed on the ground to control her.  While on the ground Koerber continued to resist the officers’ attempts to place her in handcuffs.

Koerber was sprayed in the eyes with OC spray.  After being sprayed, Koerber became compliant and the officers were able to place her in handcuffs.

Koerber was transported to the station and booked on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, and resisting arrest, and on warrant charges of assault and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.