On Thursday, April 18th, 2024, I was working my assigned 4PM to 12AM shift in the East-1 cruiser. At approximately 6:23PM, Officer Keighla McAloney (East-4), and I were dispatched to Stop & Shop (779 McGrath Highway), for a report of a male with a knife in the parking lot. The following is a summary of the incident:

Prior to that call, dispatch received a call from the Stop & Shop manager, Mr. XXXX, to have men that were drinking in the bottle return room, removed (CAD#24021887). While that call was being dispatched to Officer McAloney and I,  there was another active call in ward 1, that I got diverted to. Officer McAloney proceeded to Stop & Shop.

As I was about to clear the call I was on, dispatch called for units to respond to Stop & Shop for a male with a knife. The description of the male was a Hispanic male, wearing a black jacket and a black bandana. Officer McAloney then came over the air and stated that he went towards Garfield Street and stated that he had a black jacket on and was carrying a blue bag. Officer McAloney and Officer Eric Ubeda (East-3) stopped a suspect matching the description on Garfield Street; the suspect was later identified as Mr. Hector Aviles Mendoza.

When I arrived on Garfield Street, Officer McAloney told me that when she arrived at Stop & Shop, Mr. XXXX pointed out Mr. Mendoza, who was walking on Blakeley Avenue, towards Garfield Avenue and said "that man carrying the blue bag." He told Officer McAloney that Mr. Mendoza walked through the Tesla charging stations, onto Blakeley Avenue.

Officer Ubeda and I pat frisked Mr. Aviles for weapons but did not find a weapon. We did find a silver plastic that was wrapped lengthwise, in his left jacket pocket. It appeared to be a handmade sleeve of some sort that could hold a razor or flat, long item inside. Officer Ubeda asked him what it was for but he did not answer.

I continued to Stop & Shop to speak with Mr. XXXX. He stated that he went up to the four males that were drinking Modelos in the bottle return room and told them they needed to leave. Two of the males left and two of them refused. He told them that he was going to call the police and the third male left. Mr. Mendoza then pulled a knife out of his left pocket and said to Mr. XXXX "If you were on the street, I'd kill you." Mr. XXXX described the knife as a kitchen steak knife with a black handle.

I went back to Garfield Avenue and read Mr. Mendoza his rights. He refused to talk. While I was doing that, Officer McAloney went to retrace Mr. Mendoza's steps as according to Mr. XXXX. Shortly after, Officer McAloney came over the air and stated that she found the knife. The knife was found in the gravel, by the Tesla charging station. The knife matched the exact description that Mr. XXXX gave and also fit perfectly into the silver plastic, that served as a sleeve for the sharp end of the knife. 

I placed Mr. Hector Aviles Mendoza under arrest for the following:

- 1 count of Massachusetts General Law C.265 s.15B/A: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

- 1 count of Massachusetts General Law C.275 s.2: Threat to Commit a Crime

Mr. Mendoza was transported to the station by the prisoner transport wagon (Unit 200), operated by Officer Kevin Henriquez. He was booked by Lieutenant Salvatore Fusco.

I secured the knife and the plastic knife sleeve in an evidence box and placed it into Locker #2 (Property Tag #24021889-1).

I also secured the blue bag that Mr. Mendoza was carrying in locker #2 (Property Tag #24021889-2). Inside the blue bag was a case of Modelo's beer with 8 cans in it.

Respectfully submitted,

Officer Priscilla Ribeiro #349

Somerville Police Department