FINGER PRINT LEFT AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME LINKS 14 YEAR-OLD VANDAL TO DAMAGE DONE AT CITY PARK

On August 25, 2008, officers from Area E-5 (West Roxbury) responded to a radio call for a vandalism report in the area of 520 VFW Parkway (Hynes Field). On arrival, officers spoke to officials from the Boston Parks Department who stated that several trees in the park had been cut down and moved. Specifically, 10 trees (7 red maples and 3 honey locusts) had been cut and damaged. A search of the area enabled officers to locate and take possession of a hand saw. The hand saw was forwarded to the Boston Police Crime Lab for further analysis. Specifically, members of the Boston Police Latent Print Unit fumed the saw for latent print evidence. As a result of testing conducted at the lab, investigators were able to lift or recover a finger print belonging to the individual responsible for the damage done at the park. The prints were then forwarded to the AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) for a possible identification or match. However, no identification was forthcoming because the individual responsible for the vandalism likely had no criminal history or record.Approximately, nine months later, on Saturday, May 2, 2009, officers from Area E-5 (West Roxbury) responded to a radio call for an individual or individuals breaking into cars in the area of 111 Willow Street. On arrival, thanks to assistance provided by an off-duty Boston Police officer, responding officers were able to locate the suspect. Officers arrested a juvenile and charged him with Breaking & Entering a Motor Vehicle.
Shortly thereafter, investigators were able to match the print recovered from Hynes Field (520 VFW Parkway) with that of the juvenile arrested in connection with the above mentioned incident. As a result, the juvenile, a 14 year-old male from West Roxbury, was additionally charged with the Willful & Malicious Destruction of Property and the Destruction of Playground Equipment.