Somerville Drug, Shoplifting Suspect Called Mom For Help: Police

SOMERVILLE, MA – A Boston man caught shoplifting at Assembly Row was hiding inside a bathroom stall with drugs and a hypodermic needle when he used his cell phone to call his mother for help, Somerville police said.

Robert Perez, 37, of Boston, was shoplifting at the Nike store June 27 and ran into the Assembly Row movie theater and past staff to hide in the bathroom, police said. Police said Perez has been arrested for shoplifting from Assembly Row stores in the past.

When an officer ordered Perez out of the bathroom stall, Perez allegedly said, ‘No, I'm taking a shit.’

Officers forced the door open and Perez was “seated on the toilet, holding a syringe, and a metal spoon,” wrote Officer Tim Van Nostrand in his incident report.”Perez continued to ignore my commands, and even utilized his cell phone to call his mother and ask for help.”

Perez, of 42 Weaver Court, Boston, was arrested and charged with possession of a class E drug and assault and battery on a police officer, possession of a dangerous weapon and resisting arrest.