On Monday, May 19, 2025, Officers assigned to District A-1 (Downtown) arrested 18-year-old Kwest Howard of Dorchester following a motor vehicle incident involving a moped in Downtown Boston.
At approximately 4:38 PM, Officers conducting traffic enforcement observed a moped traveling in the wrong direction on Washington Street. The operator came to a stop near 367 Washington Street, at which point officers approached to initiate a traffic stop.
As officers neared the vehicle, the operator, later identified as Kwest Howard, suddenly accelerated the moped, turning left onto Franklin Street in the direction of one of the Officers. The Officer attempted to signal the operator to stop, but was struck by the moped, causing the Officer to be thrown back and the vehicle to crash into a nearby pole. The impact scattered debris across Franklin Street.
Following the collision, Howard fled on foot but was quickly detained with the assistance of a bystander. During the arrest, Howard actively resisted officers’ attempts to place him in custody, creating a disturbance in the area. As Howard’s behavior began to draw a crowd, he made threats to shoot Officers.
Howard was placed under arrest and arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on the following charges:
- Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (moped)
- Resisting Arrest
- Threats to Commit a Crime
- Disorderly Conduct
In addition, he was issued several Massachusetts Uniform Citations for criminal and civil motor vehicle violations, including:
- Failure to Stop for Police
- Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Helmet Violation
- Improper Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle
The officer struck by the moped did not sustain injuries. The Boston Police Department is continuing its efforts to address unsafe and unlawful operation of mopeds and scooters in the downtown area.