Two people are scheduled to face charges Monday after a large incident in Boston’s South End left a marked police cruiser destroyed by fire early Sunday.Officers responded atabout 2:12 a.m. to Massachusetts Avenue and Tremont Street and encountered a crowd of more than 100 people with several vehicles blocking the intersection. Objects, including fireworks, cones and poles, were thrown at marked cruisers, according to the department.One cruiser filled with smoke and caught fire after being repeatedly struck with fireworks, police said. Boston Fire Department crews extinguished the flames before the vehicle was towed from the scene, according to officials.Officers arrested Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, after he was seen throwing objects at officers and a cruiser before a foot chase ended in his arrest on charges including malicious destruction of property over $1,200, disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest, according to Boston police.Officers also arrested William Cantwell, 19, of Warwick, Rhode Island, after he was seen repeatedly striking a cruiser with an orange pole; police said a search of his bag turned up two packages of marijuana edibles, and he faces charges including malicious destruction of property over $1,200, disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and possession of Class D marijuana, according to the department.Witnesses say the crowd was at the intersection for a car meet-up when things spiraled out of control.Video provided to WCVB showed a large crowd surrounding a police cruiser, while fireworks were fired at the cruiser, and several cars were used to block surrounding intersections. Officers chased down and arrested two men, both from Rhode Island, as others ran from the scene. Boston police said that the gathering was a large-scale vehicle takeover event. “There was a large group of people and a police car doing circles in the middle of the intersection of Mass Ave and Tremont Street,” said John Friedel, who witnessed the incident. “It looked like it was speeding towards the crowd. The car stopped and it got attacked. Someone had a 20-foot pole they were smashing on the windshield.” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox both responded to the incident during an event Sunday afternoon. “This is not to be tolerated and we are going to do all we can to hold those folks accountable,” Cox said. “We’re gonna get every video and every bit of evidence to find every individual involved.”Wu had a specific message for those who traveled to Boston from out of state to partake in Sunday’s incident.”Do not come into Boston to disrespect our community and cause harm and disorder,” Wu said. “These outside groups are not welcome to come and treat our city this way. We will hold those individuals accountable.”
Two people are scheduled to face charges Monday after a large incident in Boston’s South End left a marked police cruiser destroyed by fire early Sunday.
Officers responded atabout 2:12 a.m. to Massachusetts Avenue and Tremont Street and encountered a crowd of more than 100 people with several vehicles blocking the intersection. Objects, including fireworks, cones and poles, were thrown at marked cruisers, according to the department.
One cruiser filled with smoke and caught fire after being repeatedly struck with fireworks, police said.
Boston Fire Department crews extinguished the flames before the vehicle was towed from the scene, according to officials.
Officers arrested Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, after he was seen throwing objects at officers and a cruiser before a foot chase ended in his arrest on charges including malicious destruction of property over $1,200, disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest, according to Boston police.
Officers also arrested William Cantwell, 19, of Warwick, Rhode Island, after he was seen repeatedly striking a cruiser with an orange pole; police said a search of his bag turned up two packages of marijuana edibles, and he faces charges including malicious destruction of property over $1,200, disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and possession of Class D marijuana, according to the department.
Witnesses say the crowd was at the intersection for a car meet-up when things spiraled out of control.
Video provided to WCVB showed a large crowd surrounding a police cruiser, while fireworks were fired at the cruiser, and several cars were used to block surrounding intersections.
Officers chased down and arrested two men, both from Rhode Island, as others ran from the scene.
Boston police said that the gathering was a large-scale vehicle takeover event.
“There was a large group of people and a police car doing circles in the middle of the intersection of Mass Ave and Tremont Street,” said John Friedel, who witnessed the incident. “It looked like it was speeding towards the crowd. The car stopped and it got attacked. Someone had a 20-foot pole they were smashing on the windshield.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox both responded to the incident during an event Sunday afternoon.
“This is not to be tolerated and we are going to do all we can to hold those folks accountable,” Cox said. “We’re gonna get every video and every bit of evidence to find every individual involved.”
Wu had a specific message for those who traveled to Boston from out of state to partake in Sunday’s incident.
“Do not come into Boston to disrespect our community and cause harm and disorder,” Wu said. “These outside groups are not welcome to come and treat our city this way. We will hold those individuals accountable.”
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