Lynn police: Fight inside taxi leads to two arrests

LYNN – A judge ordered a city man held on prior charges and set $5,000 cash bail for a new case after police reported seeing the man punching someone in the back of a taxi.But the man’s attorney said his client was trying to help police.”He was trying to hold them there until police arrived, he was doing the right thing,” attorney Joseph Finn said in Lynn District Court Wednesday.Henrique R. Lobo, 28, of 18 Madison Ave., was arrested and charged with assault and battery in the presence of a police officer; at 9:52 p.m. Tuesday.He was arraigned on the charge Wednesday in Lynn District Court where a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.Police responded to the area of 136 Western Ave. at 9:35 p.m. Tuesday on the report of a fight, according to a report by Lynn Police Officer James McIntyre.”Upon our arrival, car 16 pulled in behind a red Toyota Camry which was parked, blocking a taxi and facing the wrong direction,” McIntyre reported. “Officers (Raymond) Guillermo and (John) McKenna both witnessed Henrique Lobo punching the taxi’s rear seat passenger.”Police reported Lobo told officers his girlfriend called him at work and said she was being attacked by three people in the cab; two females, and the man police said they saw Lobo punching.Lobo told officers he came home and started fighting the people, according to the report.Police reported arresting Lobo at the scene.Essex Assistant District Attorney Shailagh Kennedy requested Lobo be held on previous charges, citing three open cases against Lobo, which include charges of drug dealing, assault and battery, and four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to court documents. Kennedy also requested $5,000 cash bail for the new charge.But Finn noted officers arrested another individual at the scene: Katherin Ogando, who was one of the women in the cab and was the suspect in a robbery reported earlier that evening by Lobo’s girlfriend.”During our investigation (the alleged robbery victim) directed my attention to a female passenger inside the taxi,” McIntyre reported. “The (alleged robbery victim) indicated that she reported a break at her residence and the female was the suspect.”In that incident, the alleged robbery victim reported to police at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday that Ogando came into her apartment without permission through an unlocked door when the alleged victim was not home, according to a report by Lynn Police Officer Mark Holey. The alleged victim said a witness saw Ogando smash a PlayStation and take a laptop computer before fleeing, according to police.”The victim states she made contact with the suspect, who admitted she stole the computer and was not giving it back,” Holey reported.Finn said Lobo came to the scene of the alleged assault only when the alleged robbery victim told Lobo the people from the alleged robbery returned to the scene. Finn said the three attacked Lobo and then got into the cab. Worried they were going to leave before police arrived, Lobo tried to stop them, Finn said. (Interestingly, booking officers noted Lobo has “Protector” tattooed on his left forearm.)Finn requested Lobo’s bail not be revoked and said Lobo’s family and girlfriend, present in the courtroom, could post $1,000 bail.Judge Ellen Flatley also said Lobo’s record included “a raft of crimes of a violent nature” and ordered his bail revoked and $5,000 cash bail for the new charge.Ogando, 22, of 68 Essex St. #2, was arrested and charged with nighttime breaking and entering for a felony; larceny +$250; and malicious destruction of property +$250; at 9:58 p.m. Tuesday.She was arraigned on the charges Wednesday in Lynn District Court where a plea of not guilty was entered on her behalf. Judge James Wexler released Ogando on personal recognizance and orders to stay away from the scene of the alleged incident, and stay away from and have no contact with the alleged victim, according to court documents.Ogando is scheduled to return to court Jan. 3. Lobo is schedu