Former Cambridge City Councilor Charged in Hotel Incident
In a troubling incident last month, former Cambridge city councilor Nadeem Mazen, 41, is facing serious charges including kidnapping, assault and battery, intimidation of a witness, and malicious destruction of property. Mazen, who served on the council from 2014 to 2017, "categorically denies the allegations," according to his attorney Zachary Barry, who expressed confidence in a fair legal process leading to Mazen’s exoneration.
The incident occurred at the Holiday Inn Express on April 16, when police were summoned after hotel staff discovered Mazen acting erratically. Officers noted that he was out of breath, foaming at the mouth, and displayed signs of paranoia. He claimed that a woman had attacked him with glass and was secretly recording him.
In contrast, the victim told police that Mazen had invited her to his hotel room while under the influence of ketamine and cocaine. She stated that after expressing discomfort with Mazen’s behavior, he locked her in the bathroom and attempted to prevent her from leaving. The victim managed to escape and sought help, prompting Mazen to throw her cell phone out the window in an attempt to thwart her calls for assistance.
Mazen, who resisted arrest, was involuntarily committed to Cambridge Hospital for treatment. He was arraigned the following day, pleading not guilty and facing conditions of release that include avoiding drugs and alcohol and having no contact with the victim.
Mazen, a known entrepreneur and activist with a history of public service, founded the design agency Nimblebot and the non-profit Jetpac, which promotes Muslim political engagement. His next court appearance is set for June 25, where a pretrial hearing will occur. The case has sparked significant attention given Mazen’s previously high-profile status in Massachusetts politics.
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