SOMERVILLE — On Thursday, March 7, 2024, Detective Ashley Catatao and Officer Keighla McAloney of the Somerville Police Department were dispatched to the Stop & Shop located at 779 McGrath Highway following a report of an assault.
Somerville police’s marked unit East-4 also responded to the scene. (The Somerville Police Department is split into two patrol districts, East and West, each with its own substation. The East District substation is at 81 Broadway on lower Broadway, while the West District substation is located 114 Broadway in Teele Square).
“As Officer McAloney and I pulled up, we observed the suspect, later identified as Noe Hernandez, being treated for a facial wound by Somerville Fire,” Det. Catatao said in a summary of the incident published to the Somerville police’s weekly arrest log.
Noe Hernandez, 48, resides at 90a Flint St. #3 in Somerville.
“Officer McAloney and I immediately secured Hernandez and Ofc. McAloney pat frisked him and located a knife in his right, pant pocket. I then radioed to Somerville Control and requested a Spanish speaking officer to help interpret due to Hernandez only speaking Spanish.”
Cataldo EMS arrived at the scene and assessed both Hernandez and the victim, [whose name was redacted from the report].
Upon the arrival of Detective Jason Costa from marked unit East-2, who is fluent in Spanish, Officer McAloney communicated with the victim and his daughter. Meanwhile, Det. Catatao engaged in a conversation with Hernandez, with Detective Costa serving as the interpreter.
Hernandez told the officers that he was just charging his phone when he and the victim got into an argument, which resulted in the victim punching him in the face.
Officer McAloney informed Det. Catatao that the victim, his daughter, and a bystander—who was shopping at Stop & Shop and witnessed everything—reported that Hernandez brandished a knife at the victim before punching him twice on the left side of his face. Det. Catatao noted blood on the left side of the victim’s chin and a small gash on the right side. They added that the victim retaliated in self-defense, striking Hernandez in the face, and giving him a bloody nose. The victim and his family then tried to walk away from Hernandez, but Hernandez continued to follow them. By this time, the victim’s wife/partner had already called 911 at least once and made another call.
After Officer McAloney briefed Det. Catatao on the events, Det. Catatao arrested Hernandez. Hernandez was transported to the Somerville Police Department where he was booked on the following charges: assault with a dangerous weapon (knife) and assault & battery (two counts).
