Man with shotgun allegedly threatens Somerville resident over missing turtle

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent

Somerville Police arrested a Hamilton man outside a Holland Street apartment last week after he allegedly threatened two people with a loaded shotgun for stealing his pet turtle.

According to police, an upstairs resident at 142 Holland St. returned home with her boyfriend July 26 and reported finding Seth T. Roberts, 31, sitting on the front porch cradling a shotgun, with a handgun tucked in his waistband. 

It was unclear whether Roberts, who gave police a Hamilton address, was living on the first floor of the Somerville house or was a frequent visitor there.

"Someone took my turtle," Roberts told the woman, according to a police report. "My baby who I saw hatch, how would you like it if someone took your baby?"

The woman told Roberts she didn't take his turtle and turned to enter the home, according to police. As she climbed the stairs, Roberts began to pump the shotgun, expelling live shells onto the floor, police said.

Before she fled to her apartment, she told police she grabbed  one of the loaded rounds from the floor.

"What do you have in your hand?" Roberts yelled, according to the police report.

"Evidence," the woman replied, before slamming the door and calling police.

Officers confronted Roberts, who said he believed the woman's boyfriend was someone else he suspected of stealing his reptile, according to police.

From the first-floor apartment, police collected a shotgun and two live 12 gauge rounds, a .40 caliber Ruger handgun, a high-capacity magazine, two machetes, and numerous boxes of assorted ammunition.

Roberts was charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and ordered held on $1,000 bail or $10,000 bond by Somerville District Court Judge Maurice Flynn. He was released July 27 on $1,000 cash bail under the condition that he have no contact with the alleged victims, and surrender his firearm identification card and license to carry a weapon.

Matt Byrne can be reached at mbyrne.globe@gmail.com.