Woman Reports Assault, Fighting on Cambridge Common

About 2:15 p.m. yesterday afternoon, an apparent fight or assault involving a group of homeless people occurred on Cambridge Common near the intersection of Mass. Ave. and Garden Street.

Shortly after police arrived on the scene, a woman was visible lying on a bench. She appeared to be covered in blood.

The woman told The Crimson that she had been beaten.

Cambridge police, fire and First Step (an alcohol and drug treatment program) personnel arrived on the scene.

All the people at the scene were put into the First Step van. Cambridge Police Department spokesperson Frank T. Pasquarello said last night that everyone involved in the incident was homeless and intoxicated.

First Step is part of Cambridge Somerville Prevention and Drug Rehabilitation.

Pasquarello said no crime had occurred.

Fire department personnel stayed on, one fire fighter said, to clean up the blood left at the scene.

--Harrel E. Conner