Commonwealth v. Simmons

On August 3,1983, Officers John McCarthy and Richard F. Pimental of the Boston police were on duty wearing plainclothes in the “Combat Zone.” About 4:15 p.m., McCarthy was on the street, and Pimental was in a nearby bar. At that time, McCarthy observed the defendant, Eddie Simmons, struggling with the victim, who was clutching a wallet in his right hand. Simmons held the victim’s right hand with his left hand and hit the victim twice on the arm and chest, grabbing the wallet as the man fell. Simmons turned and, upon seeing Officer McCarthy (and apparently sensing that he had been observed…