According to a press release from the Boston Police Department, officers responded to the area of 125 Charles Street South for a report of breaking and entering. At the scene, officers found the front door of a business smashed and a brick inside. After officers checked surveillance video, a description of the suspect was broadcasted. A short time after midnight, an officer was checking his assigned marked cruiser at the start of his shift.

The officer found the windshield of the cruiser smashed, according to the BPD. After viewing surveillance video, a description of the suspect was broadcasted. Later that morning, officers were dispatched to the area of 15 Sudbury Street where they found a broken window. Police say the description of the suspect was similar to the description from the prior incidents.

When following the suspect through video surveillance, police observed the suspect throwing an unknown item at the Holocaust Memorial at 98 Union Street. At that location, police found a brick on the ground and vandalism to the memorial. Around 3:02 AM, officers responded to 15 Court Square for a vandalism report. Officers found a broken glass window at the back of the business.

A broken window at a nearby business at 201 Washington Street was also broken. The Boston Police Department alleges it was the same suspect from the prior incidents. Officers used video surveillance to see the suspect enter the shelter at 112 Southampton Street. A supervisor contacted the Newmarket Command Center who confirmed the suspect was still inside the shelter.

Officers responded to the shelter around 4:30 AM and apprehended the suspect. 46-year-old Lawrence Hawkins was arrested and charged with multiple counts of destruction of property and destruction of a place of worship. Around 10:44 AM, officers were dispatched to the Granary Burying Ground and found 14 tombstones vandalized. Six additional tombstones were vandalized at the adjacent King’s Chapel Burying Ground.

The Boston Police Department alleges video surveillance showed a suspect matching the earlier description of the apprehended suspect. The suspect will also be charged with more counts of destruction of property and defacing a burial site.