A Newton man faces criminal charges after he tried to grab the bicycle out from under a bicyclist riding down Pleasant Street just before midnight on March 31.
Police were called to the area of Pleasant Street near Russo’s for a man wearing a mask, yelling and running in and out of traffic, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor.
A few minutes later an employee from Russo’s reported a man fitting the same description was in the store parking lot near the loading dock.
“An officer located the person and was able to control the situation,” O’Connor said.
He also spoke to a man who said the suspect attacked him.
“The victim stated while he was riding his bicycle home on Pleasant Street the man jumped out in front of him and attempted to take his bicycle,” O’Connor said. “He wrapped his arms around the victim and tried to take him off the bike.”
After a brief struggle the victim was able to get away, O’Connor said.
The suspect was taken to hospital for treatment, and Watertown Police summonsed the man, a 40-year-old from Newton, to Waltham District Court on charges of assault and battery and attempting to commit a crime – larceny from a person.
Watertown Police do not release the name of people who are summonsed to court.