A teen from Dorchester has been charged with assaulting a state trooper, while a separate incident involves a second teen facing a firearm offense. Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced that Dashaun James, 19, was arraigned on several charges including assault and battery on a police officer following an incident where state troopers and Boston police were attacked by a crowd. James was released on personal recognizance and is expected to return for a pre-trial hearing on May 2, as reported by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.
The chain of events seems to have been set into motion around 3 p.m. on February 27, when a firearm arrest of a 17-year-old male transpired in the vicinity of Washington Park Mall. According to the same source, this location has been a hotbed for reports of shots fired and illegal firearms. The 17-year-old was later held on $2,500 bail after being charged with illegal possession of a firearm in Boston Juvenile Court.
During the operation, another juvenile was seen fleeing, prompting officers to find a loaded Glock 19 and a second loaded firearm. The separate call for a person with a gun and subsequent shots fired near Malcolm X Park led to the arrest and assault on the state trooper. Details from the district attorney's release describe the responding officers being encircled by approximately 20 individuals while attempting to detain the suspect, who was resisting arrest.
Additional Boston Police officers had to be called in to assist with the situation. It was during this altercation that James was said to have circled the scene and struck a trooper, causing injuries that included lacerations. Regardless of several commands to move away, James continued to engage and was seen putting his phone in an officer's face—which seemingly aggravated the situation further. As reported by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, this conduct led to his charges, with the wounded trooper being punched, kicked, and put in a headlock before additional officers arrived.
Hayden expressed his view on the events stating, “This was an extraordinary violation of civic order and a willful, reckless assault on the very people tasked with securing peace and safety in our neighborhoods. These troopers and officers found themselves in a violent and dangerous situation and proceeded to handle themselves with the highest level of professionalism.” According to the district attorney's office, the investigation to identify additional suspects involved continues and two other juveniles are expected to be arraigned at a later date.
