Crime & Safety
JP Man Charged with Attempted Robbery of an Elderly Person
The suspect tried to take a woman's handbag after allegedly assaulting her in Back Bay Station Monday.

Photo via MBTA Transit Police
Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the MBTA Transit Police. Where an arrest is mentioned, it does not indicate conviction.
A Jamaica Plain man was arrested Monday for allegedly attempting to rob an elderly woman at the MBTA’s Back Bay Station, according to MBTA Transit Police.
Find out what's happening in Jamaica Plainfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Transit officers responded to the station on a report of an assault in progress around 11:25 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27. Police spoke with a 62-year-old female victim and nearby witnesses, who provided a description of a male suspect who fled the station towards Dartmouth Street. After responding to the Dartmouth Street area, officers located the suspect, Robert Johnson, 49, of Jamaica Plain, as he was being restrained on the sidewalk by an unknown man.
Police learned that the female victim had exited the Rte. 39 bus when Johnson allegedly approached her and seeking money. He then allegedly followed the woman into Back Bay Station and eventually stood in front of her, then forcefully pushed her to the ground, struck her in the torso and tried to take her handbag. The woman was aided by a nearby citizen and Johnson then allegedly fled the station.
Find out what's happening in Jamaica Plainfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Johnson was expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Boston Municipal Court-Central Division for assault to rob (unarmed) and assault and battery on an elderly person.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.