Man Accused of String of Sexual Assaults

– Allison Goldsberry

Police have arrested a suspect they believe is responsible for several indecent assaults on women in Medford, Somerville, and near Tufts University over the past few months.

According to information released by the Somerville Police, Alfredo Romero Posada, 22, of Somerville, was arrested this week and was charged with three counts of assault with intent to rape and three counts of indecent assault and battery.

According to published reports, Posada pleaded not guilty and said he is being treated for schizophrenia. He is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Tuesday.

Over the past two months, police from Somerville, Medford, Cambridge, Tufts, and Transit have been working with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force to investigate the assaults. The Task Force used surveillance teams, Decoy Officers and Saturated Patrols in the Davis Square and Porter Square neighborhoods, according to a police statement. Police saw Posada in the Davis Square area approaching a woman walking alone on October 29. They were able to stop him and identify him as a potential suspect.

Posada was asked to appear in a suspect line-up at the Somerville Police headquarters on Friday and he was positively identified by victims of two Somerville assaults and of one Medford assault. He is being charged in connection with a September 10 incident on Wallace Street, a September 24 incident on College Avenue, both in Somerville, and an October 22 incident on College Avenue in Medford.

In a statement released by Somerville Police, Chief Thomas Pasquarello expressed his gratitude to all of the investigators and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office who worked long hours over the past two months to identify and apprehend this suspect.

“We are grateful for the courage and cooperation of each victim and the support that we have received from the community and our law enforcement partners,” said Chief Pasquarello.