Wakefield man arraigned on assault charges after causing disturbance in Primark
BOSTON, June 11, 2024 – A Wakefield man was arraigned Monday in BMC Central on numerous charges after physically assaulting a security guard and police officers while causing a disturbance in Primark and threatening to blow the store up, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
WILLIAMS RODRIGUEZ-JUAREZ, 24, was charged with unarmed robbery, making a bomb or hijack threat, assault and battery on a police officer, strangulation or suffocation, trespassing, resisting arrest and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (shod foot). Judge Joseph Griffin set bail at $500 and ordered Rodriguez-Juarez to stay away from Downtown Crossing. Rodriguez-Juarez is due back in court on August 12 for a probable cause hearing.
At about 4:42 p.m. on June 8, Boston police responded to Primark at 10 Summer Street and observed a male, later identified as Rodriguez-Juarez, to be intoxicated and causing a disturbance by yelling at employees inside the store.
Before officers arrived, Rodriguez-Juarez was inside the loading dock, an area restricted to employees only. Upon being asked to leave by store personnel Rodriguez-Juarez began yelling, screaming and making inappropriate sexual statements to employees and customers. Rodriguez-Juarez then became aggressive and tried to leave with store merchandise while threatening to ‘blow this place up.”
Rodriguez-Juarez then physically assaulted a security guard by placing the guard’s hands behind his back and yelling “you need to arrest him.” Officers gave Rodriguez-Juarez verbal commands to release the security guard and Rodriguez-Juarez immediately resisted arrest by kicking and pushing officers.
During the arrest, Rodriguez-Juarez turned his head and bit an officer on his left upper arm, causing the skin to tear and bleed. After several minutes of Rodriguez-Juarez kicking, biting, and punching officers, more officers arrived and were able to subdue Rodriguez-Juarez.
As officers escorted Rodriguez-Juarez out the store, he started kicking, twisting and pushing his body against them.
The officer that sustained the bite wound was evaluated by EMS.
Hayden’s office has held several meetings with regional retailer groups and small business owners to discuss safety concerns and to help store managers strategize responses to shoplifting and retail larcenies. The meetings have come amid increasing national and local frustrations around retail crime, along with concerns over the closure of several pharmacies serving minority communities in Boston.
“This type of conduct goes far above and beyond mere shoplifting. We have to recognize the impact it has on shoppers and employees and on the safe operation of retail businesses. All employees and shoppers have the right to a safe store environment, and all security guards and police officers should be able to carry out their duties without resistance,” Hayden said.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications