By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer responded to the Stop and Shop store at McGrath Highway last week on a report of a shoplifter from the previous evening who allegedly pulled a knife on an employee.

The officer met with store manager and was informed that at around 10:20 p.m. on May 8, a man, later identified as Paul Anderson, of Boston, came into the store and attempted to steal a bag of groceries.

A store employee confronted Anderson and was able to retrieve the items. A few minutes later, Anderson returned and selected several groceries items from the vestibule area.

When Anderson was approached by a member of the overnight staff, he reportedly displayed a knife and left the store with the stolen groceries.

The police officer reviewed the store surveillance video of the vestibule area, where Anderson was observed selecting several groceries before leaving the store.

At approximately 6:45 p.m., the officer, while in the area of the East Branch Somerville Library, observed Anderson, sitting on the wall outside the library. Next to Anderson on the wall, was a brown paper bag with what appeared to be an open container of alcohol in it. Anderson appeared to be the suspect from the video the officer had just watched about 15 minutes earlier.

The officer radioed in his location to dispatch, approached Anderson and asked for his name, which he provided.

The officer informed Anderson that he matched the description of a suspect from a shoplifting incident, and he stated that he was not the suspect.

Anderson then stood up, picked up his container of alcohol, and attempted to walk away from the officer, who informed him that he was not free to leave, at which time he reportedly became aggressive.

The officer ordered Anderson to stop, but he reportedly refused to comply. The officer placed Anderson into the escort position, and be began to struggle with.

At this point backup officers arrived on scene and Anderson was placed into handcuffs.

At the same time, another man ran from across the street, and approached within two feet of the arresting officer. The man, later identified as Shannon McKim, began yelling, “Why are you arresting him? This is America.”

The officer ordered McKim to step away and informed him that he was interfering with a police investigation. McKim reportedly took one step back, but was still within arms-reach of the officer, who ordered McKim to step 10 feet back, but he refused to comply, continuing his verbal tirade.

According to reports, McKim then attempted to engage Anderson, saying, “Don’t answer them. I want to know why you are arresting him. Don’t worry, they are all going to lose their job.”

The officer ordered McKim two more times to step back 10 feet, but he refused to do so.

The officer informed McKim that if he did not step back 10 feet he would be forced to arrest him. McKim reportedly shrugged and asked, “Is your job really worth it?”

The officer placed McKim under arrest, handcuffed him, and asked him to identify himself, but he reportedly refused to do so.

The prisoner transport unit arrived on scene, at which time the officer advised McKim that if he identified himself, he would release him and summons him to court instead. McKim again refused to identify himself.

McKim and Anderson were subsequently transported to the Somerville Police Department for booking. At the station, Anderson was booked in the usual manner. McKim initially refused to identify himself at the booking window, but he eventually identified himself.

Anderson was booked on charges of violation of city ordinance open container and armed robbery.

McKim was charged with miscellaneous common law violation.