SOMERVILLE — On Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at 11:23 p.m., Officer Thomas Lambert of the Somerville Police Department responded to 20 Ames Street following a report of an assault.
Officers Christopher Fusco, Christine Bork, Sergeant Samir Messaoudi, and Detective Ariel Collazo responded as well.
(The account and quotations in this article were taken from Officer Lambert’s Summary of Facts.)
When he arrived on scene, Officer Lambert saw two men standing in the middle of the street. One of the men had blood on his hands and a stab wound to his cheek near his left eye (the stab victim’s name was redacted in the report).
The other individual on scene was later identified as Michael Bento.
Bento, 41, is a resident of 20 Ames Street.
Officer Lambert called Somerville Fire Department and Cataldo Ambulance to treat the victim who – upset – was yelling in the middle of the street.
“[The victim] was screaming in the middle of the street, stating that Mr. Bento had stabbed him and that he had a sharp weapon in his pocket,” Officer Lambert said. “At this time, I ordered Mr. Bento to show me his hands and to slowly remove the weapon from his pocket and back away from it.”
Bento removed a flathead screwdriver from his pocket, dropped it to the ground, and backed away from it at the officer’s request.
“I ordered him to keep his hands where I could see them and to not move,” Officer Lambert said. “I then placed Mr. Bento in handcuffs as Officer Fusco treated [the victim] for his wounds. I then read Mr. Bento his Miranda Rights off of a pre-printed card Sergeant Messaoudi handed to me. Mr. Bento said he did not wish to speak with me and wanted a lawyer, so I did not ask him any more questions.”
While Officer Fusco treated the victim, he told Officer Lambert that he’s had “ongoing problems” with Bento because he’s dating Bento’s ex-wife.
“[The victim] stated he called Mr. Bento, stating he was on the way to his house and to come outside,” Officer Lambert said. “[The victim] then waited outside as Mr. Bento came out and attempted to punch him in the face with a closed fist, but missed. [The victim] said Mr. Bento pulled out a screwdriver and stabbed him on the cheek near his left eye.”
Officer Lambert spoke with Bento’s mother, Rosa Bento, who said the alleged victim showed up at their house wanting to fight her son.
“Mrs. Bento attempted to stop him and have him go inside, which he did, but [her son] came out moments later to confront [the victim],” Officer Lambert recounted.
Bento was transported to the Somerville Police Station for booking.
He was charged with one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
