Man Charged in Alleged Screwdriver Assault

A Medford man allegedly attacked two with a screwdriver over a drug debt Thursday, police said.

Ryan Marckini, 18, of 41 Lund Road faces two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault and batter to collect a loan, according to court records.

Marckini allegedly attacked two men - one who owed him money for buying marijuana - at a red light at the intersection of Central Avenue and Spring Street about 12:30 p.m. Thursday, according to a Medford Police report.

Along with his brother, John, Marckini allegedly followed the victims from one of their homes on Cushing Street, the police report said.

At the stop light, Marckini allegedly opened the rear door of the victims car and dragged one of the men out of the back seat and into the street.

The two began to fight and Marckini picked up the other man and slammed him onto the hood of a car parked in a Spring Street driveway, the report said.

Marckini went back to his car - a red Chrysler convertable - returned with a screwdriver and attacked the man again, a witness told police.

During the attack, someone was yelling either "I want my money," or "you owe me money," a witness said.

When another man tried to pull Marckini off the victim, he swung around and stuck him with the screwdriver, the report said. Both victims sustained non-life threatening injuries.

One of the victims told police he purchased marijuana from Marckini one or two months ago but never paid him for it, police said.

About 15 minutes after the incident, Marckini's Chrysler was spotted by a State Trooper on Fells Avenue. It was stopped and the Marckinis were held until an eyewitness to the attack was brought there and identified Ryan Marckini as the suspect. John Marckini was not charged.

A Phillips-head screwdriver was recovered in the car, police said.

Marckini was released on bail following arraignment in Somerville District Court Friday morning.