By Jim Clark

On Friday, May 29, two Somerville police officers on detail were approached by the Union Square Citizens Bank branch manager who stated that a woman had just passed a note to a teller and robbed the bank.

The manager pointed out a woman, later identified as Jodie Perkins, of Dorchester, as she crossed Union Sq. and started to walk up Webster Ave.

Both detail officers began to walk in the direction of Perkins and called dispatch to request that area patrol units respond.

The officers approached Perkins in the front stairway of a Webster Ave. building, where Perkins was reportedly yelling that she did not want to live anymore. A silver purse and several dollar bills were observed scattered in the hallway of the building.

Officers spoke further with the bank manager, who stated he had noticed Perkins as she was at a teller station yelling and swearing. The manager said he believed she was an unhappy customer so he was going to talk to her. As he approached her she continued to swear and at that point he observed a note on the counter, at which time she quickly walked out of the front entrance of the bank.

Police obtained images of Perkins from the bank’s security unit. The teller who waited on Perkins stated that she observed her walking in through the front door. She said she took out a transaction slip and wrote on it at the counter. She then walked up to the teller window and handed her the slip which had writing on the back. The writing was very messy so she asked Perkins what she wanted. She reportedly said, “Just give me all your money!”

The teller said she handed her the front row of bills from her money draw – $654 in various denominations – and pressed the alarm button.

Perkins was placed under arrest for unarmed robbery. She reportedly continued to make statements to officers that she wanted to harm herself. She was transported to the Cambridge Hospital for evaluation.

Officers went to the hospital where they spoke to Perkins.  She was read her rights and agreed to speak to them, stating she knew her rights. During the interview, Perkins stated she had been smoking crack cocaine all day and had robbed the bank in the hopes that she would get shot by the police when they went to stop her.