Somerville Man Threatened T Riders With Beating: TPD

SOMERVILLE, MA – A Somerville man was arrested Friday morning after threatening to hit MBTA riders with a stick, Transit Police said. Richard Bothelo, 47, was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon.

Transit officers were called to the Riverside Station around 6 a.m. for a report of a man swinging a weapon at passengers, police said. Witnesses said Bothelo was threatening to strike passengers in the face while on the eastbound platform, according to police.

He then got onto a Green Line train, screamed profanities and swung an "elongated stick" at passengers, police said.

"Bothelo's actions caused fear amongst his fellow riders as well as delayed the train at the start of rush hour," Transit Police said in a statement.

Image via Transit Police Department