ICYMI: Somerville Police Charge Multiple Suspects with Unlawful Spitting

In a strange coincidence, two apparently unrelated recent arrests in Somerville led to police either seeking assault and battery charges against suspects, or outright charging them.

But not for punching or kicking - for spitting.

Let us not forget that although spitting on someone causes no physical harm, it qualifies as “offensive contact,” and could justify an assault and battery charge.

The first instance of illegal spitting occurred around 5:55 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, according to police records.

Authorities say they arrived at 45 Memorial Rd. to find Brandielee DaSilva, 37, of Medford, engaged in ruthless hand-to-hand combat with Holly Shea, 22, also of Medford.

Police didn’t specify why DaSilva and Shea were fighting, but sound impressed by the two women’s intensity.

On the way to breaking up the skirmish, police report hearing “several distinct thudding sounds, similar to the sound a piece of beef makes when it is struck by a meat tenderizing hammer.”

Both women were arrested and charged with violating Massachusetts Common Law for fighting in public.

The objectionable spit occurred on the way to the squad car, when Shea spat at DaSilva. Police report that they are now seeking an assault and battery complaint against her due to the spitting.

The second spitting occurrence took place Friday, April 17, a bit after 11 a.m. Police arrived at the Gilman Street home of Michael Cameron Bourque, 20, with an arrest warrant for a probation violation.

Evidently not a morning person, police say Bourque went through the classic motions of resisting arrest - physically tensing up and dropping to the ground as police were dragging him out of his home. They say Bourque was also calling the officers nasty names all the while.

But the new charges against him would have been limited to resisting arrest, police say, had he not spit on a pair of officers while they stuffed him into a squad car.

Police say that thanks to the vicious display of projectile saliva, they now charge Bourque with assault and battery on an officer.

Let these two stand as an example to lawbreakers and ruffians out there - spitting isn’t just rude. It’s against the law.