Large crowds violently confronted police in 3 Mass. street ‘takeovers’

A cruiser was set on fire in Boston. Fireworks were fired at a police cruiser in Randolph. A Dodge Charger drove at an officer in Middleborough.

These incidents occurred over the weekend, part of what officials are calling large-scale “takeovers,” which are coordinated efforts to shut down streets with personal cars and barriers for “doughnuts” and street racing.

Officials have not connected all three events as being part of the same group as of Monday afternoon.

In Boston, two teenagers from Rhode Island were arraigned in connection with the street takeover that set a police cruiser on fire after being hit with fireworks from multiple angles.

Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and William Cantwell, 19, of Warwick, Rhode Island, were among the 100-plus people who gathered Sunday morning around 2 a.m.

When police showed up to break up the crowd, their cruisers were hit with cones, poles and other objects besides fireworks.

When the cruiser caught fire, several people started jumping on the hood and prevented the officer inside from getting away from the crowd or being able to see, according to a prosecutor in court on Monday.

The officer escaped their cruiser after it began to fill with “sparks and smoke,” and other officers jumped in to help with tasers and “unholstered” guns, the prosecutor said.

Police saw Bowers throwing objects at the cruiser and arrested him after a foot chase; Cantwell was seen smashing an orange pole off the cruiser several times and then arrested, according to a police report filed in court.

A judge set bail at $500 for Bowers, who posted bail, and $1,000 for Cantwell, who went to Suffolk County Jail in lieu of bail.

The first reported street takeover of the weekend took place in Middleborough at about 11 p.m. on Saturday night, where about 50 vehicles and dozens of people got together in a commercial parking lot at Routes 105 and 28, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Several vehicles used stolen plates, and a Dodge Charger with Connecticut plates attempted to strike a police officer on scene, state police said.

Police later spotted the Dodge Charger on Interstate 495 and began to pursue the vehicle onto Interstate 195 west toward Rhode Island. Troopers ended the pursuit when it crossed state lines and assisting Rhode Island troopers lost sight of the vehicle during their response, police said.

“Each incident remains under investigation by the Department with primary jurisdiction,” Tim McGuirk, a state police spokesperson, said on Monday. “As public safety partners, we will continue to share information in the interest of the affected communities.”

Police in Randolph were also met with a rowdy crowd of more than 100 people who struck cruisers with fists and other objects before setting off fireworks at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, officials said.

“This was carried out by individuals who were concealing their faces with masks and videotaping themselves,” police said. “These individuals continued and sat on the hoods of the cruiser and lit fireworks off, placing the officer inside in extreme danger.”

Boston officials were quick to denounce the takeover event on Sunday.

“The outside individuals who came into our city to cause disorder and brought dangerous behavior here will be prosecuted,” Mayor Michelle Wu said during a press conference at the Roslindale Parade. “We are asking public’s help for any information to be able to do that as quickly as possible.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said the takeover events are “dangerous, intolerable assaults on our police officers and our neighborhoods.”

“We and our law enforcement partners will do all we can to identify and hold accountable anyone involved. No one should think they can jeopardize public safety in such a brazen manner without consequences,” Hayden said.