Two men are due in court Monday after a Boston Police Department cruiser was torched during what police described as a “large-scale vehicle takeover” early Sunday morning. A similar incident was reported in nearby Randolph, Massachusetts.
The Boston incident happened just after 2 a.m. in the area of Mass. Ave. and Tremont Street.
Boston police said that when officers arrived they found a crowd of more than 100 people attacking cruisers with fireworks, cones, poles and other objects.
According to police, cars had been used to block the intersection which prevented the normal flow of traffic.
Boston police cruiser torched
External Affairs Porter 
One cruiser was repeatedly hit with fireworks, police said, causing smoke and fire inside.
“At one point, members of the crowd jumped onto the hood of the cruiser, further endangering officers,” police said.
The Boston Fire Department eventually was able to extinguish the burning police cruiser, but it was destroyed. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
The Randolph Police Department had a similar incident about 45 minutes before the Boston cruiser was set on fire. Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said police are investigating to see if the incidents are related. Randolph is about 30 miles from Boston.
Arrests during Boston police confrontation
Two people were arrested during the Boston incident.
Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, Rhode Island was allegedly seen throwing objects at officers and their cruiser. Police said Bowers ran, but was arrested on charges of malicious destruction of property over $1,200, disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.
Police said they saw William Cantwell, 19, from Warwick, Rhode Island repeatedly hitting a cruiser with an orange pole. After a struggle with officers, Cantwell was arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property over $1,200, disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.
Cantwell allegedly had two packages of marijuana edibles in his bag, so he was also charged with drug possession.
Bowers and Cantwell are expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court.
“Not going to be tolerated”
Cox told reporters that no officers were hurt.
“The fact is they could have been hurt,” Cox said. “There’s a lot of folks that come from all over to do these illegal street racing, in not only our city but throughout the country. This is just not going to be tolerated.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was asked about the political optics of the incident, given recent comments about the city by the federal government.
“I am grateful every day for the hardworking, brave officers of the Boston Police Department and all of our first responders and certainly grateful for the actions they took last night,” Wu answered. “The outside individuals who came into our city to cause disorder and brought dangers to those who live here will be prosecuted.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Boston Police Department.
Randolph police cruisers attacked
The incident in Randolph happened around 1:30 a.m. at the intersection Oak Street and Route 28.
Randolph police said masked individuals who were video recording themselves were punching cruisers and hitting them with other objects. Police said there were more than 100 people in the group, and they were lighting fireworks off.
The Randolph Police Department is also seeking information from the public. People are asked to call (781) 963-1212.
According to Massachusetts State Police, a group of about 50 vehicles was first seen in Middleboro around 11 p.m. Saturday night in a business parking lot on Route 105 near Route 28. Police said several had stolen license plates, and the driver of a white Dodge Charger with Connecticut plates tried to hit a Middleboro officer.
Not long after that, state police found two cars, including the Dodge, on Interstate 495 and began a pursuit. Troopers ended the chase when it entered Rhode Island, state police said. Rhode Island State Police picked up the pursuit, but lost track of the car.
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