Police: Woman Held Up at Knifepoint Escapes by Kicking Robber in Shin

A woman who was held up at knifepoint in East Somerville Saturday scared off her assailant by kicking him in the shin and screaming, according to a Somerville police report.

Police responded to the incident a little after 7 a.m. and spoke to the victim, who said she was walking down Pearl Street near Pinckney Street when she was grabbed from behind and spun around, according to the report.

The assailant held a kitchen knife to her stomach and mumbled something she didn't understand, the report says.

Fearing for her life, the woman kicked the would-be robber in the shin and screamed, and he ran off toward Charlestown, according to the report.

Police found a man matching the assailant's description on Pearl Street. He had a seven-inch serrated kitchen knife on him, and the victim later identified him as her attacker, the report says.

Police arrested the man, 19-year-old Walter Maradiaga, of East Boston, and charged him with armed assault to rob and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Please remember that allegations contained in police reports do not indicate a conviction.