Juvenile Arraigned for Arson in the Torching of a Boston Police Cruiser
Framingham 15-year-old held on $10,000 bail
BOSTON, June 12, 2020— A teenager was arraigned today in Boston Juvenile Court for arson for the role he played in the torching of a Boston Police Department cruiser on the night of May 31, 2020 after a day of peaceful protests over police brutality and the murder of George Floyd, District Attorney Rachael Rollins announced.
Judge Peter Coyne granted the Commonwealth’s request for $10,000 bail on the charge of arson of a motor vehicle. An additional charge of inciting a riot will be heard at the next court date, scheduled for June 23, 2020.
If the youth’s family is able to make bail he will be required to have GPS and stay out of the City of Boston, among other conditions.
“At my direction, this office has taken every step to hold those accountable for their violent and destructive conduct on May 31st and the days that followed,’’ said DA Rollins. “Our investigation on behalf the citizens of Suffolk County, the peaceful protesters, and Officers of the Boston Police Department involved a bifurcated approach: coordinating charges and prosecutions for those arrested on the night in question where there was sufficient evidence to do so with the oversight of the First Assistant District Attorney and Chief of my District Courts, and developing the logistics and strategic plan for conducting a subsequent investigation into substantial additional criminal conduct of individuals that were not arrested that evening.
“The investigation leading to the arrest of the young male yesterday involved close coordination and collaboration with the Crime Strategies Bureau of my office, the Boston Police, the Boston Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit, the FBI, the ATF as well as the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts,’’ said DA Rollins. “These partnerships on a local, state, and federal level are critical to this successful effort and led to today’s court appearance and prosecution. We will always work together to protect our community.”
“I will always act to hold individuals accountable for acts of violence, and that obviously includes acts of violence against members of law enforcement. The individuals accused of violence and looting must not overshadow the actions of tens of thousands of peaceful protesters who took to the streets of our city to show their hurt and outrage over the murder of George Floyd. I stand with those protesters in demanding justice and accountability for Mr. Floyd and the countless others who are horrified by that act of law enforcement officers.”
The investigation into the incident is continuing.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 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.