At about 11:31 PM, on Saturday, November 25, officers assigned to District A-1 (Downtown) responded to the area of 125 Charles Street South for a report of a breaking and entering. Officers observed the front door of the business to be smashed and located a brick inside. Officers were able to check video surveillance and a description of a suspect was broadcasted.
Shortly after midnight, a last half officer was checking his assigned marked cruiser to start his shift. The officer observed the front windshield of his cruiser to be smashed. Officers were able to view video surveillance and broadcasted a description of the suspect.
Later that morning, officers responded to the area of 15 Sudbury Street, where officers observed a window to be broken. After further investigation, the description of the suspect was similar to the prior incidents.
Officers were able to follow the suspect through video surveillance and observed him throw an unknown item at the Holocaust Memorial located at 98 Union Street. Officers responded to that location, and observed a brick on the ground, and vandalism to the memorial.
At about 3:02 AM, officers responded to 15 Court Square for a vandalism report. Officers observed a broken glass window at the back of the business. Officers also observed a broken window at a nearby business at 201 Washington Street. Officers gathered video surveillance and observed the same suspect from the prior incidents.
Officers were able to follow the suspect through video surveillance and observed him enter the shelter at 112 Southampton Street. A supervisor contacted the Newmarket Command Center who confirmed the suspect was inside the shelter.
At about 4:30 AM, officers responded to the shelter located at 112 Southampton Street and located a suspect matching the description from the prior vandalism incidents. The suspect was placed into handcuffs and transported to District A-1 for booking.
Lawrence Hawkins, 46, of Boston was placed under arrest and charged with multiple counts of destruction of property, and destruction of a place of worship. He is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.
Around 10:44 AM, officers responded to the Granary Burying Ground located in the area of Tremont Street and Bromfield Street for a vandalism report. Officers were advised that multiple tombstones on the property had been vandalized including Paul Revere’s. A total of 14 tombstones were vandalized by being pulled from the ground or broken into pieces.
As officers continued their investigation, they observed vandalism to six additional tombstones located in the adjacent King’s Chapel Burying Ground. Officers observed one tombstone to be forcibly pulled from the ground.
After further investigation, officers were able to view video surveillance, which showed a suspect matching the earlier description of the suspect who had been arrested. The suspect will be charged with additional counts of destruction of property and defacing a burial site. The National Park Services was also notified of the incident.