Arlington's state Democratic senator, J. James Marzilli Jr., pleaded not guilty Wednesday, June 4, in Lowell District Court on five charges stemming from an incident with a woman seated on a bench in the city's downtown area. The prosecutor at the arraignment said a second woman in Lowell alleged the senator made unwanted advances.

He was arrested Tuesday, June 3, on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior, the State House News Service first reported, citing a police source.

Other media outlets reported that Lowell Police said Marzilli was arrested at 3:45 p.m.  trying to flee.

Corey Welford, a spokesman for Middlesex Country District Attorney Gerry Leone told InsideMedford that Marzilli approached a woman on a park bench on Middle Street, made an inappropriate comment and attempted to touch the woman in a sexual manner. The woman forcibly prevented Marzilli from groping her, according to the report.

Welford said Marzilli initially gave police the wrong name and fled the scene when they approached him, InsideMedford reported.

Various media outlet reported June 4 that Marzilli used the name of fellow lawmaker Martin Walsh, who is a state representative from Dorchester, a prosecutor said in court.

The Globe gave this account of thr arraignment June 4:

"Police threatened Marzilli with pepper spray after a foot chase through downtown Lowell because he would not put his hands above his head, according to a police report read in court by prosecutor Richard M. Mucci. Marzilli initially told officers his name was Martin Walsh, he lived in Medford, and was born in 1958. However, he soon revealed his true identity and told police, 'you don't understand ... I'm a state senator.''

"'The defendant began to cry,' Mucci said, reading from the police report. 'He said they could not arrest him, that his life was over.'

"Marzilli appeared stoic and said nothing when he was arraigned on charges of attempting to commit an indecent assault, simple assault and battery, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, and disorderly conduct ....

"Mucci said in court that another woman contacted police and alleged that a man matching Marzilli’s description had approached her in Lowell Tuesday and said: 'Oh baby you are so beautiful. Your body is so perfect.'

"The woman told police that the man followed her until she told him to go to Merrimack Street and find a prostitute, Mucci said. The woman identified the man as Marzilli in a photo lineup, and he was charged today with annoying and accosting a person of the opposite sex."

Marzilli was accused of sexual assault in early April, but Leone did not pursue the case, saying in May there was insufficient evidence.

The report by Jim O'Sullivan for the news service based in Boston said Marzilli, 50, was also charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, attempt to commit a crime, and obstruction of justice, according to police.

Marzilli, an Arlington progressive in his first term in the Senate, tried to resist arrest by fleeing through the city's downtown, police said, according to the news service.

Kevin Lombard of the Lowell Police Department said Marzilli was arrested on Middle Street in downtown Lowell, the news service reported. YourArlington is attempting  to confirm the report with Lowell police.

The Boston Globe reported Marzilli was in Lowell earlier in the day to attend an open house at Federal Fabrics-Fibers Inc., a manufacturer of high-tech textiles to the military.

Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, said in a written statement that she was troubled by the report. "These are troubling allegations, and we take them very seriously. We will pay close attention to this matter as it develops," she said, according to The Globe.

Marzilli was not immediately available for comment Tuesday, the news service reported. YourArlington has requested comment.

His attorney, Terrence W. Kennedy of Everett, told YourArlington June 3 that he had not yet talked to police or to his client. He said he had heard about the allegations from reporters.

The Globe reported June 4 that Kennedy "told reporters his client 'completely and totally denies' the allegations, which he called ridiculous." The Globe reported Marzilli was released Tuesday on $1,500 cash bail.

Marzilli is seeking reelection to the Senate after winning the seat last December. He served as a state representatives for 17 years before seeking the Senate seat after Robert A. Havern stepped down last August to become a lobbyist.

Opposing him in the September primary are Jack Hurd and Ken Donnelly.

Barney Keller, communications director for the Massachusetts Republican Party issued a short statement in response to the arrest about 5 p.m., The Lowell Sun reported.

"Sen. Marzilli is entitled to his day in court, but these are very serious charges and if they are true he should resign," Keller said.

The senatorial district includes Arlington, Billerica, Burlington and parts of Lexington and Woburn.

Marzilli is scheduled to return to court July 3 for a pretrial hearing.