Overview
- Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, and William Cantwell, 19, of Warwick, pleaded not guilty in Roxbury District Court, with bail set at $500 for Bowers and $1,000 for Cantwell.
- Investigators say more than 100 people blocked Massachusetts Avenue and Tremont Street as fireworks, cones and poles were thrown at marked cruisers, igniting one vehicle; no officers were reported injured.
- Boston Fire Department crews extinguished the burning cruiser, which was towed from the scene after the crowd was dispersed using department-issued equipment.
- A similar takeover in Randolph around 1:30 a.m. featured masked participants striking cruisers and lighting fireworks on their hoods, and State Police reported a separate Middleborough meetup where a driver nearly struck an officer.
- Mayor Michelle Wu, Police Commissioner Michael Cox, Gov. Maura Healey and Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden condemned the violence and said additional arrests are expected as tips and videos are analyzed.