By Jim Clark

The Somerville Police Department was asked to review a surveillance video at the Saks Off 5th store at Assembly Row last Thursday evening.

According to reports, the video from a few days earlier showed two males and a female arriving in a car. The female reportedly entered the store while one male waited outside on the sidewalk, and the other remained seated in the driver seat of the car with the engine running.

Police said that the female selected two Michael Kors handbags (total value $300 each) and one Roger Vivier handbag ($2000) and left the store without making any attempt to pay for the merchandise. The male and female then entered car and left the area.

As the officer who reviewed the video spoke with the store security personnel, his attention was drawn to the surveillance monitor where he saw the same male and female from the shoplifting incident enter the store.

The officer exited from the side door onto Canal St. and observed the same car as before outside Saks with a male seated in the driver seat with the engine running. According to reports, the operator was continuously looking to his left and right and appeared to have been acting as a lookout.

At this time the police officer called for backup, and three other officers arrived on the scene.

The male and female reportedly exited the store and ran towards the parked car. They immediately entered the vehicle and drove towards the intersection of Canal St. and Grand Union Blvd. where they were stopped by police officers.

The driver, identified as Brian Lounsbury, was placed in handcuffs and detained.

As the female passenger, later identified her as Kathleen Sullivan, stepped out of the vehicle, one of the officers yelled, “Knife!”

The passenger from the back seat, later identified as David Downey, attempted to exit the vehicle without being asked to, and was reportedly spotted throwing a knife inside the car.

In addition to the knife, three crack pipes were reportedly found in the car, along with a small baggie that appeared to contain heroin.

All three individuals were placed under arrest. Downey was charged with violation of city ordinance possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of a class A drug. Lounsbury was charged with possession of a class A drug. Sullivan was booked on a warrant charge of receiving stolen property under $250.