SOMERVILLE — On Monday, February 16, 2026, at approximately 3:40 p.m., Somerville Police Officer Keighla McAloney was dispatched to the multi-unit residential property located at 20R Summer Street following a report of threats.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from a summary of the incident written by Officer Keighla McAloney in the Somerville Police Department’s weekly arrest log and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“On arrival, both parties were separated,” Officer McAloney said. “I first observed a large silver and black kitchen knife placed on the steps of the building.”
Officer McAloney said she first spoke with the reporting party and asked what led to the police response. The reporting party stated that his family owns the property at 20 Summer Street and that earlier that day he received a complaint from another tenant alleging that Jeffrey Rufo had been smoking marijuana and throwing trash into the parking lot.
According to police, Jeffrey A. Rufo, 48, is a resident of 20R Summer Street, Somerville, MA.
“[The reporting party] noticed Rufo sitting on the steps in the back parking lot, [and] he confronted him regarding the complaint,” Officer McAloney said. “[The reporting party] stated Rufo got ‘weird’ and called him derogatory names. He added Rufo repeatedly asked if he was going to call 911 and stated, ‘Do it. They won’t show up anyway.’”
The reporting party then got into his vehicle that was parked in the parking lot and called the Somerville Police Department, while Rufo went back into his apartment.
Officer McAloney said that moments later, while the reporting party was on the phone with Somerville Police Dispatch, he noticed Rufo at his passenger-side door waving a knife around and pointing it at him. She added that during their conversation, the reporting party pointed to a knife on the building’s steps and stated, “that one,” indicating it was the knife Rufo allegedly used to threaten him.
“Rufo then pointed his finger at [the reporting party] and took the knife to his own neck still pointing at [him],” Officer McAloney said. “[The reporting party] backed his vehicle up and drove towards the exit of the parking lot. Rufo then placed the knife on the steps to the building and followed [the reporting party’s] car and knocked on his window. Officers then arrived on scene.”
Officer McAloney said that at this time, Somerville Police Detective Jason Costa, who was among the other officers who arrived on scene, said Rufo told him that there had only been an “argument about trash” between him and the reporting party.
Officer McAloney placed Rufo in handcuffs and read him his Miranda rights.
“Rufo stated he understood and wanted to speak with me,” Officer McAloney said. “He stated that there was an argument over trash.”
Officer McAloney said she asked Rufo why police had been told he had a knife, and he responded that no knife was involved.
“I advised Rufo he was under arrest for the charge of assault with dangerous weapon,” Officer McAloney said.
Rufo was then transported to the Somerville Police Department for booking.
Officer McAloney said that prior to clearing the scene, she was approached by a neighbor who stated that he witnessed part of the incident.
“He stated he first noticed Rufo holding a knife up towards [the reporting party],” Officer McAloney said. “[The reporting party] then attempted to drive away and Rufo followed on foot; however, [he] placed the knife down on the steps first.”
Officer McAloney said the knife was seized and placed into evidence.
Jeffrey Aaron Rufo, 48, of Somerville, was charged with the following:
- Assault with Dangerous Weapon
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