Various charges in 33 arrests at rally
Thirty-three people aged 15 to 50 were arrested at Saturday’s “Free Speech Rally” on charges as diverse as public drinking to packing a gun after traveling here from as far as Oregon and Florida, Boston police said. Nine were city residents. Officials did not identify the defendants by political faction or ideology. Most of the arrests took place after the rally ended, and included people throwing rocks and bottles of urine at cops, police said. Officials noted that the crowd of as many as 40,000 people was otherwise largely peaceful.
Arraignments are expected to take place between tomorrow and Wednesday at Boston Municipal Court, according to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.
“As with almost any large crowd, a small number of people went beyond the bounds of safe behavior, and we’ll assess their cases fairly on their individual merits when they’re brought before the court.” Conley said in a statement in which he praised the counterprotesters for their stand against “bigotry and racism.”
Among the more serious incidents, a Norwich, N.Y., man identified by police as Nathan Mizrahi, 38, was arrested “after he and two others were observed entering the Common wearing body armor. They were told the armor was prohibited and it was confiscated. It was later discovered that one of the ballistic vests concealed a firearm,” said Boston police Lt. Detective Michael McCarthy.
In addition, police seized three knives from those taken into custody, including Roberto Bonila, 20, of Chelsea and Shaun Petty, 33, of Taunton, both charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The third, Shawn Vieira, 25, of Boston is accused of unlawfully carrying a dangerous weapon.
Other charges include:
• Assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest: Shaun Petty, 33, of Taunton; Zhen Xie, 33, of Malden; and Mohammed Eldeb, 23, of Somerville.
• Two counts of delinquent to wit assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and delinquent to wit disorderly conduct: 15-year-old girl from Cambridge, whose name was not released because she is a minor.
Another two dozen people were charged with disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, fighting in public or trespassing, police said.