BOSTON, March 20, 2025 – A firearm arrest of a 17-year-old juvenile led to an incident last month where several state troopers and Boston police were surrounded and attacked by a large group during a separate arrest, resulting in a 19-year-old being arraigned on several charges, including assault and battery on a police officer in Roxbury BMC Monday, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
DASHAUN JAMES, 19, of Dorchester was charged Monday with assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Judge David Breen released James on personal recognizance. James is due back in court on May 2 for a pre-trial hearing.
The 17-year-old was charged with illegal possession of a firearm in Boston Juvenile Court earlier this month and held on $2,500 bail.
The incident was set in motion at about 3 p.m. on February 27, when Boston Police officers assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force along with members of the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit made a firearm arrest of a 17-year-old male in the area of Washington Park Mall, an area of frequent calls for shots fired and illegal firearms.
As officers approached the 17-year-old, a second juvenile fled while clutching his waist. Officers recovered a loaded Glock 19 from the first juvenile’s left jacket pocket. They recovered a second loaded firearm while canvassing the flight path of the second juvenile.
At about 4:00 p.m., police received a call for a person with a gun and shots fired nearby in the area of Malcolm X Park with a description of the suspect.
Soon after, officers patrolling the area observed a person matching the description of the suspect with a gun enter a vehicle with two unidentified males on Martin Luther King Boulevard. A struggle ensued when police approached the vehicle, resulting in one trooper being assaulted and falling to the ground. During this assault, officers were surrounded by approximately 20 people.
Additional Boston Police officers were called to the area to assist. On arrival, officers observed several members of the Boston Police Youth Violent Strike Force and Massachusetts State Police surrounded by a large group of people. The group was physically interfering with officers placing the suspect, who was resisting arrest, into custody. The group was seen pulling at officers’ clothing and pulling the suspect away while ignoring officers’ demands to move back.
After the suspect was placed in custody, one male, later identified as James, ignored several commands to move away. James circled the scene and stuck his phone in an officer’s face.
Video from the scene and information from troopers indicated James had attacked a trooper earlier in the incident. The trooper sustained lacerations on his left eyebrow and to his left nostril. Officers were informed that the trooper was punched, kicked and placed in a headlock before additional officers arrived on scene.
Two other juveniles involved have been identified and will be arraigned at a later date. An investigation into additional suspects is ongoing.
“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,” Hayden said.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
