By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer on patrol in the early morning hours of last Saturday observed a fight taking place in the middle of Elm St., in front of the Burren club. The officer immediately called in to police dispatch to request backup for the situation.
The officer recognized one of the individuals involved in the fracas as Jose Mercado as he battled two other men in the street.

The officer was able to separate Mercado from the other individuals and escorted him onto the sidewalk.

One of the other men involved in the fighting approached Mercado and made insulting remarks about his mother, at which time he reportedly ran around the officer, who was trying to move everyone from the street, and sprinted towards the man, punching him with a closed fist in the mouth area and knocking him to the ground.

The officer grabbed Mercado, as another man came over attempting to defend his friend from Mercado. The two men latched their arms around each other and would not let go.

The officer separated both men once again, gained control of Mercado’s arm in the escort position and gave him verbal commands to get on the ground and not to move.

Mercado reportedly did not comply with the officer’s verbal commands, so he used a control technique, escorting him to the ground, and placed him in under arrest for assault and battery.

According to reports, during the entirety of the incident and due to the fact the bar was closed, a crowd of 20-30 people had gathered on the street to watch the spectacle.

The officer reportedly told one of the other men involved in the incident numerous times to stay away from Mercado, who was in handcuffs, seated on the sidewalk. The man reportedly ignored the officer’s commands and said to him, “Take off your badge.” At this time, the officer detained man and sat him on the sidewalk in front of The Foundry.

Prior to being taken to jail, Mercado was searched and a plastic baggie with individually tied glassine baggies inside, each containing a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine, was found on his person.

Police made the determination that the baggies found on Mercado were consistent with possession with the intent to distribute activities.
Mercado was subsequently transported to Police headquarters, where he was booked on charges of disorderly conduct, assault and battery, and drug possession to distribute.