Daily Incidents For February 2, 2007
Woman Arrested For Check Fraud
Yesterday around 4:50pm, officers in District 18 responded to a radio call for a woman attempting to pass a bad check at the Citizens Bank in Shaw’s at 1377 Hyde Park Avenue. On arrival officers spoke with the bank manager who stated that the suspect attempted to cash a personal check when the computer system alerted her to a possible fraud. The suspect provided the manager with a phone number that was allegedly for the victim. The manager spoke with a male who stated he was the victim and provided a social security number. While the alleged victim was on the phone the manager was able to contact the real victim on another line that stated he did not know the suspect and did not write her a check. Kishana Funches, 19, Dorchester was arrested and charged with Uttering or Publishing False Writings and Forgery of Records, Certificates and other Writings.
Victim Assaulted and Robbed
Last night around 11:51pm, officers in District 15 responded to a radio call for an assault and battery in progress at Main and School Streets. On arrival officers were unable to locate a victim. Officers proceeded to conduct a search of area and observed the victim at the intersection of Warren and Henry Streets. The victim had visible swelling on his face and stated that he had been kicked in the face several times. The victim stated he was walking down Main Street towards School Street when the three suspects come upon him and demanded his IPOD. The suspects proceeded to push the victim to the ground kicking and punching him repeatedly. The suspect attempted to pull his IPOD from his pocket but only retrieved the headphones. The victim was taken to Mass General Hospital and treated for his injuries. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate any suspects.
Person Shot at Adams and Lyon Streets
This morning around 2:37am, while tagging illegally parked cars officers in District 11 heard numerous gunshots and observed a suspect firing at a group of people on Lyon Street neat Adams Street. Officers observed a female fall to ground and two black males flee down Lyon Street. One of the victims yelled out that he was hit and sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. The victims reported to police that they were walking down Lyon Street and walked by two black males standing at the corner. The victims went on to state that one of the suspects said something to them, but they ignored them and continued walking. At that time when the victims turned the corner, one of the suspects stated firing at them. The victim was transported to Boston Medical Center and treated for a non-life threatening injury. The other two victims did not sustain any injuries. Officers did recover ballistic evidence at the scene.
MESSAGE FROM THE POLICE COMMISSIONER
**MEDIA PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN INTERNAL MESSAGE SENT BY COMMISSIONER DAVIS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
A Message from Police Commissioner Ed Davis
I would like to commend everyone involved in the response to yesterday’s events. The Citizens of Boston had their lives disrupted by what turned out to be a misguided publicity stunt. The men and women of the Boston Police Department and our various law enforcement partners responded to the situations presented to them efficiently and effectively, the way they have been trained to respond. Officers raced across the city in response to calls reporting bombs and other suspicious devices. As trained, our officers placed themselves in harms way to protect the public. Tough decisions were made to ensure safe situations. I cannot say enough about the rapid, efficient and skillful response by everyone involved in the day’s events. This response resulted in officers being held over to address the threats, which were being reported throughout the Boston Area.
Some have criticized the response to these incidents without having all the facts and circumstances known to them.
As the day unfolded the law enforcement community was informed in the early morning hours of the arrest by British authorities of several terror suspects.
At 6:53 a.m. DHS reported that a Washington D.C. Metro station was closed down due to a suspicious package.
At 8:18 a.m. an MBTA worker reported a suspicious device attached to a stanchion supporting Interstate 93 and near the train line. Appropriate units responded and determined that this device was suspicious and had components consistent with improvised explosive devices.
At 8:52 a.m. DHS notified Law Enforcement officials that at least 4 people were being treated at a post office after being overcome by fumes emanating from a package at a post office in New York City.
At 9:00 a.m. The Boston Police Bomb squad is requested by the MBTA to Sullivan Square and examines the item. As a precaution I-93 is closed and the device is rendered safe and determined to be some sort of hoax device at 10:21 AM.
At 12:54 p.m. the Boston Police Bomb squad receives a call for a suspicious device at the intersection of Stuart and Charles Street. That device appears similar to the first device containing batteries, wires, magnets and other components similar to the device in Sullivan Square. Using approved procedures the item is photographed, X-rayed and eventually rendered safe.
Six minutes later at 1:02 p.m. Boston Police received a call from New England Medical Center Security that they had uncovered a pipe bomb in their building in a desk drawer. Shortly thereafter Hospital Security reported that a suspect had been seen leaving the area of the pipe bomb in an agitated state stating “God is warning you that today is going to be a sad Day”. The suspect was reported to have fled the hospital. Boston Police continue to investigate this incident. No further details at this time.
At 1:08 p.m. the Boston Police Bomb Squad arrived and confirmed the existence of an item which appeared to be a pipe bomb inside the hospital.
At 1:11 p.m. information was received and a request was made by the Massachusetts State Police to have the bomb squad assist with locating devices under the Longfellow and BU bridges.
At this point we had multiple reports of possible improvised explosive devices of various types. As those devices were being investigated and rendered safe, detectives from the Boston Police Department and Massachusetts State Police were running down information on a cartoon character possibly associated with these devices, that later led to websites associated with that character and individuals placing these devices around the area.
Boston Police begin to receive numerous calls for similar devices throughout Boston and surrounding areas.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. detectives from the Boston Police Department were contacted and were verifying information from representatives from the corporation responsible for this advertising campaign.
At 4:51 p.m. Turner Broadcasting representatives were verified as taking responsibility for placing devices with the cartoon character. This was at the same time a press conference was underway at Boston Police Headquarters.
Officers identified a device (possible pipe bomb) at the New England Medical Center which turned out to be unrelated. Another type of device was located under the Longfellow Bridge, which is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police.
During this time, ATF, FBI, Federal Protective Services, United States Secret Service, Massachusetts State Police, Federal Park Police, Transit Police, and our UASI Partners pulled together and redeployed resources in the event a larger response was needed.
Later in the evening the emergency event was declared resolved.
I recognize that this event caused you to work extra hours, to inconvenience your families and cause them concern. I want to convey my deep appreciation of your dedicated service and my pride in the manner in which the members of this Department responded to this incident.
Boston 24: A look at the last 24 hours in the City of Boston.
Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Wednesday, January 31, thru 10 AM Thursday, February 1, 2007.
Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 1
Street Robberies: 9
Commercial Robberies: 0
Other: 1. Carjacking.
Vehicle thefts: 0
Vehicle recoveries: 8. Two arrests.
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 14
Residential break-ins: 8
Commercial Break-ins: 1
Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.
DAILY INCIDENTS FOR FEBRUARY 1, 2007
Carjacking Suspect Arrested Shortly After the Act by Vigilant Officers
Around 10:05am yesterday, officers from District 11 arrested a 16 year old juvenile suspect from Dorchester and charged him with Armed Carjacking, and numerous traffic violations.
Officers were on patrol in the area of Bowdoin St. and Geneva St. in Dorchester when they first observed the suspect standing next to a motor vehicle. As officers continued to travel down the street, an individual later identified as the victim started to yell frantically to officers that the suspect had just stolen his car. As the suspect observed this interaction, he immediately entered the car and took off at a high rate of speed. Officers followed this car until they the suspect fled the car and attempted to flee on foot. The suspect was caught and placed in custody after a brief foot pursuit. Officers returned and spoke to the victim through a Spanish speaking officers and learned that he had been carjacked at knifepoint by the suspect. The victim, working as an unlicensed cab, had picked up the suspect and when he pulled over to drop off the suspect, the suspect threatened him with a knife and demanded his keys.
Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested After Being Followed by Victim
Officers from District 13, last night around 9:16, responded to 209 Heath St. in Jamaica Plain for an armed robbery. On arrival officers spoke to the victim who reported that she was robbed at knifepoint by an individual who approached her while in front of 240 Heath St. The victim further reported that the suspect threatened with her a knife when she hesitated to hand over her bag. Per victim, the suspect fled into 209 Heath St. after he robbed her. Officers responded to that address and conducted a search and located an individual matching the suspect description. That individual was positively identified as the suspect by the victim and placed under arrest. Michael S. Benjamin, 51, of Quincy was arrested and charged with Armed Robbery.
B&E Suspect Detained by Victim Until Officers Arrive
Last night around 9:21pm, officers from District 6 responded to 160 West 1st St. in South Boston for a robbery in progress. There, officers observed the victim standing over the suspect. Officers spoke to the victim and learned that he returned to find that his place of business had been broken into, his rear window pried open, a ladder leaning up against the wall, and his business ransacked. Victim further explained to officers that as he looked through the place and went to call 911 he located the suspect hiding under a table. The victim then held the suspect until officers arrived on scene. Officers arrested suspect, Scott R. Hurd, 28, of Boston and charged him with Breaking and Entering and Malicious Destruction of Property.