Public Safety Watch: Waltham man arrested for assault and battery on a police officer

A Waltham man was arrested for assault and battery on a police officer and other charges following an April 29 incident.

According to police, a female resident was walking on Lake Street when she noticed a man following her. The man, Ronald Rujumba, 41, of 56 Fiske St., kept telling the resident she was beautiful and would not leave her alone.

Rujumba allegedly put his arm around the reporting party, but she was able to pull away. However, he kept following her and speaking to her. She was able to reach her house and lock the door, but Rujumba kept trying to turn the doorknob and sat on her front steps.

When the reporting party told Rujumba she was calling the police, he fled, according to police.

Officers responded around 11:50 a.m. and located Rujumba, who allegedly had harassed multiple residents on Lake Street. According to police, one resident said he was harassing her while she was gardening; when a neighbor walked over to confront him, Rujumba fled and broke her fence.

Police also said while officers were interviewing residents, Rujumba hit an officer in the torso. Officers then attempted to put Rujumba under arrest and into a police cruiser, but Rujumba resisted, cursed loudly and kicked an officer with a shod foot. (In Massachusetts, a shod foot is a foot covered by a boot and can be considered a dangerous weapon when it is used to hurt someone else.)

Rujumba was arrested and charged with attempted breaking and entering, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, destruction of property under $1,200, assault and battery, annoying and accosting a person, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and two counts of assault and battery on a police officer.

Additional police activity

A summary of police activity from April 25 to May 1 is as follows:

On April 25 at 2:14 a.m., police responded to a report of an assault in the area of 309 Moody St. The reporting party stated that she was pushed from behind while riding her bike in the area on April 24. The incident is under investigation.

At 12:29 p.m. police responded to a report of a motor vehicle hit-and-run at Costco Wholesale at 71 Second Ave. Someone allegedly struck the reporting party’s car while it was in the parking lot. When officers arrived, the caller had already left. The caller also did not answer any callbacks from the police.

At 1:15 p.m. police responded to a report of trespassing at Global Thrift at 322 Moody St. An employee stated that a 45-year-old man who had been given a trespass order in the past for shoplifting had entered the store. Officers removed him from the store without incident.

Samuel Alvarado-Cruz, 63, homeless, of Waltham, was arrested at 4:13 p.m. on a warrant for disorderly conduct.

Joel Moore, 59, of 16 Felton St., Waltham, was arrested at 6:33 p.m. on a warrant for shoplifting and for possession of a class B drug (crack cocaine). Moore was arrested after an officer saw him walking on Bacon Street. The officer knew that Moore had an active warrant and subsequently arrested him. After he was arrested, officers searched Moore and found what was believed to be crack cocaine in his possession.

On April 26, Martin Mullen, 38, of 39 Broad St., Quincy, was arrested at 2:07 a.m. for receiving a stolen motor vehicle, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property worth less than $1,200 and two counts each of improper use of a credit card and receiving a stolen credit card.

At 9:15 a.m., police responded to a report of possible gunshots at the intersection of Brigham Road and Main Street. Officers surveyed the area and interviewed multiple residents. They determined that everything was in order.

At 12:08 p.m., police responded to a report of an unwanted individual at Extended Stay America at 32 Fourth Ave. A hotel employee told police that a former guest was refusing to leave. When officers arrived, the individual had already left. Police assisted the hotel with filing a trespass order.

On April 27, Richard Lucas, 72, of 32 Fourth Ave., Waltham, was arrested at 10:41 a.m. for failure to register as a sex offender. He was arraigned on this charge at Waltham District Court on April 28 and was ordered to be held at the Middlesex County Jail.

At 2:10 p.m., police responded to an alleged assault and battery at Costco Wholesale at 71 Second Ave. Two men had gotten into an argument over using the soda machine. Both involved parties said the argument turned physical. Police reviewed camera footage, which showed the men shoving each other. Both parties were advised to seek complaints for assault and battery at the Waltham District Court.

Manolo Bernal, 20, of 190 Chase Road, Lunenburg, was arrested at 6:47 p.m. on a warrant for a suspended or revoked license.

On April 28 at 4:20 p.m., a Waltham police detective assisted the State Police with an investigation at 11 Felton St. The department did not provide any further details.

Margo Mobiley, 60, unhoused, of Waltham, was arrested at 4:39 p.m. for trespassing. Mobiley had had a trespass order filed against her by the library since 2024 but was seen on the property by staff. Officers attempted to convince her to leave, but she refused.

At 7:35 p.m. police responded to a report of a missing person at a residence on Chestnut Street. An elderly resident was reported missing by their roommate. Detectives confirmed that the resident was in a local hospital.

On April 29 at 1:36 a.m., police responded to a report of an assault and battery at a residence on Chamberlain Terrace. An individual at that address struck someone else in the face. Police advised the victim of their options.

At 12:59 p.m. police responded to a report of an unwanted person at the Waltham Medical Group suite at Revere Medical at 6 Lexington St. An employee stated that a patient had gotten into an argument with the front desk and refused to leave. The individual left when police arrived and was trespassed from the business.

Carol Anderson, 64, of 136 Blackstone St., was arrested at 4:38 p.m. for trespassing.

On April 30 at 2:16 a.m., police responded to a report of a motor vehicle break-in at a residence on Winter Street. The reporting party’s wallet, laptop, headphones and jewelry were allegedly stolen. The matter is under investigation.

On May 1 at 7:05 a.m., police responded to a reported motor vehicle break-in at a residence on Stearns Hill Road. The reporting party had personal items stolen worth over $300.

At 5:35 p.m., police responded to the area of 610 Main St. for a call related to the May Day protest being held. The caller reported that cars were having trouble getting through the protest area. Officers responded and found that the protesters had the correct permit. They advised protesters to stay off the street.

George Munoz-Rodriguez, 23, of 162 Arlington St., Brighton, was arrested at 6:12 p.m. on warrants for an unregistered motor vehicle, two number plate violations and an uninsured motor vehicle.