SOMERVILLE — An 83-year-old Somerville man has been arrested after police say he repeatedly targeted families near a neighborhood playground, sparking outrage and fear across the city.

Mario Pereira was taken into custody on September 17 following what police describe as “multiple complaints” of inappropriate behavior at Marshall Street Playground. According to prosecutors, Pereira is also facing a July charge of indecent assault and battery involving a woman with an intellectual disability — a case still pending in court.

Authorities allege Pereira approached both children and adults in unsettling ways, turning a public park into what investigators now call a crime scene. Police reports detail a pattern of misconduct stretching back months, prompting heightened patrols and eventually culminating in Pereira’s arrest.

Court filings reviewed by Mass Daily News show that Pereira is being held pending arraignment, with additional charges under consideration. Officials say the investigation remains active and are urging anyone with further information to come forward.

What was once an ordinary playground now carries the mark of scandal, its slides and swings overshadowed by the accusations leveled against an octogenarian defendant who prosecutors claim abused trust and preyed on the vulnerable.