By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the MBTA station at Holland St. last week on reports that a man was actively attempting to steal locked bicycles.

While en route to the scene, Somerville Control advised the officers that the man had moved to the front of the Somerville Theatre and was attempting to break the lock of another bicycle.

Arriving officers approached the suspect, later identified as Kendall Joslin, and detained him. According to reports, as he was detained, Joslin dropped a large metal pole.

The officers observed that Joslin was wearing heavy duty work gloves and wearing a headband with an flashlight attached to it. They also observed a bicycle frame laying on the sidewalk of Holland St. near the bus stop in front of the MBTA station. They reportedly also located a twisted and broken U-Type bike lock near the bicycle.

Joslin reportedly stated that he was breaking the locks on bicycles that he believed were in disrepair. He presented this explanation as if he were working for a company.

The officers asked him to clarify who, if anyone, he was working with. He stated that he wasn’t working with anyone.

Later it was learned that while approaching the scene, a police officer observed Joslin utilize the metal pole he was carrying to pry open and destroy a bicycle lock that was securing a bicycle frame to a post.

A witness, a retired Deputy Chief of the Somerville Police, who is currently a sworn, special police officer of the Somerville Police Department, approached the responding officers. He advised them that he observed Joslin break several U-Type bicycle locks that had been securing bicycles to bike racks.

Joslin was placed under arrest on a charge of malicious wanton defacement of property.

The witness then led officers to the bike behind the MBTA station where he said he had first observed Joslin breaking bicycle locks.

The witness stated that he was walking in the area and heard a loud noise. He then observed Joslin using a long pole to pry open bicycle locks. Joslin allegedly broke two, and then moved onto Holland St.

Joslin was advised of his rights pursuant to Miranda, after which he reportedly stated that he was breaking the bicycle locks in order to free up space in the bicycle racks. He believed the bicycles which he forcibly removed the locks from were in disrepair, and believed that Somerville DPW should pick them up as trash.

The arresting officer advised Joslin that he has no right to destroy property that does not belong to him.

Because of his statements, the arresting officer elected not to charge Joslin with attempted larceny.

The arresting officer noted that Joslin continued from one area to another, breaking bicycle locks as he saw fit. He was carrying a long metal rod and a length of cable, wearing work gloves and a hands-free light. Had police not stopped him when they did, he may have continued this behavior. The arresting officer also noted that bicycle thefts in the Davis Square area are very common.