Mass. Police Faced Violent Clashes During Weekend Street Takeovers

A police cruiser was set on fire in Boston. Fireworks were shot at police in Randolph. And in Middleborough, an officer was almost run down as police in the state tried to crack down on illegal street takeovers.

Oct. 7, 2025

7 min read

What to know

Coordinated street “takeovers” in Boston, Randolph, Middleborough and Fall River drew large, aggressive crowds over the weekend, with fireworks, reckless driving and attacks on police vehicles leaving one cruiser destroyed by fire.
Seven people were arrested across the four incidents, which authorities say were organized on social media to overwhelm law enforcement.
No officers were injured, but several cruisers were damaged, and officials are condemning the trend as a dangerous, escalating threat to public safety.

By Luis Fieldman

Source masslive.com

A social media phenomenon that is leading to real-world consequences has swept across the country, and this past weekend, it struck at least four Massachusetts communities — in Boston, Randolph, Middleborough and Fall River.

They’re known as street “takeovers,” which officials say are coordinated efforts that start online on various platforms and are intended to overwhelm law enforcement with large, unruly crowds that led to violent confrontations Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

In Boston, a police cruiser caught fire after being hit by fireworks from a crowd of more than 100.

Similarly, fireworks were fired at a police cruiser in Randolph. And in Middleborough, a Dodge Charger drove at a responding officer to a takeover event in a commercial parking lot.

A fourth takeover event from the weekend, this time in Fall River, saw hundreds of people blocking roads throughout the city with multiple reports of reckless driving and street racing.

No officers were reported injured during these events, but the cruiser that caught fire in Boston was destroyed.

So far, officials have announced seven arrests total after these four events, which have not been connected as being part of the same group.

Elsewhere in the country, in recent weeks, the Austin, Texas, police department warned the public about a planned illegal street takeover event, telling people that police “will not tolerate reckless driving or illegal activity,” and said that participants would be subject to arrest and vehicles impounded.

Last month, the Los Angeles Police Department said on social media that its Street Racing Task Force would be patrolling for illegal street takeovers and stated, “Participate in a takeover, lose your car.”

A sheriff in Colorado is urging lawmakers to address this issue with new legislation, and she told CBS News that it’s the number one complaint her office receives and that social media is making it more frequent.

“It’s much different today because of the number of participants and the amount of advertising that goes on,” Jefferson County Sheriff Reggie Marinelli told the outlet.

Boston

In Boston, two teenagers from Rhode Island were arraigned in connection with the street takeover that set a police cruiser on fire after being hit with fireworks from multiple angles.

Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and William Cantwell, 19, of Warwick, Rhode Island, were among the 100-plus people who gathered Sunday morning around 2 a.m.

When police showed up to break up the crowd, their cruisers were hit with cones, poles and other objects besides fireworks.

When the cruiser caught fire, several people started jumping on the hood and prevented the officer inside from getting away from the crowd or being able to see, according to a prosecutor in court on Monday.

The officer escaped their cruiser after it began to fill with “sparks and smoke,” and other officers jumped in to help with tasers and “unholstered” guns, the prosecutor said.

Police saw Bowers throwing objects at the cruiser and arrested him after a foot chase; Cantwell was seen smashing an orange pole off the cruiser several times and then arrested, according to a police report filed in court.

A judge set bail at $500 for Bowers, who posted bail, and $1,000 for Cantwell, who went to Suffolk County Jail in lieu of bail.

Middleborough

The first reported street takeover of the weekend took place in Middleborough at about 11 p.m. on Saturday night, where about 50 vehicles and dozens of people got together in a commercial parking lot at Routes 105 and 28, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Several vehicles used stolen plates, and a Dodge Charger with Connecticut plates attempted to strike a police officer on scene, state police said.

Police later spotted the Dodge Charger on Interstate 495 and began to pursue the vehicle onto Interstate 195 west toward Rhode Island. Troopers ended the pursuit when it crossed state lines and assisting Rhode Island troopers lost sight of the vehicle during their response, police said.

“Each incident remains under investigation by the Department with primary jurisdiction,” Tim McGuirk, a state police spokesperson, said on Monday. “As public safety partners, we will continue to share information in the interest of the affected communities.”

Randolph

Police in Randolph were also met with a rowdy crowd of more than 100 people who struck cruisers with fists and other objects before setting off fireworks at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, officials said.

“This was carried out by individuals who were concealing their faces with masks and videotaping themselves,” police said. “These individuals continued and sat on the hoods of the cruiser and lit fireworks off, placing the officer inside in extreme danger.”

Fall River

Police responded to multiple reports of reckless driving, street racing and blocked roadways around 12:26 a.m. Sunday. Those incidents were part of a “coordinated and preplanned event intended to disrupt traffic and disturb the peace of the community,” police wrote in a statement posted to Facebook.

“These gatherings intentionally block roads, endanger the public through negligent vehicle operation, and interfere with emergency services. Such actions are deliberate public disturbances and are not protected assemblies,” Fall River police wrote.

The assembled crowd forced a private ambulance to re-route on Innovation Way when they refused to let it pass. Later, police responded to Davol and Central streets, where roughly 200 people had gathered, completely blocking the roadway.

At the intersection, several people in high-visibility vests acted as road guards while vehicles performed burnouts and donuts, and the crowd set off fireworks in the street, police said. Many of those in the crowd wore masks to conceal their faces and “showed complete disregard for police presence,” the statement reads.

Police described the blockage of Davol Street as a “serious public safety hazard for Fall River and surrounding towns” because it provides direct access to St. Anne’s Hospital and Charlton Memorial Hospital.

The group is believed to have gathered in Brockton before traveling as a “convoy” to Fall River. At the scene, police towed four vehicles and made five arrests. Police also sought a warrant for an additional suspect and are working to identify others through body-worn camera footage.

The five people arrested were each charged with disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and conspiracy. They are: Jahir Gonzalez, 22, of New Bedford, Alexander Copsetta, 21, of North Easton, Alyssa Deyoung, 19, of Bridgewater, Mackenzie Benjamin, 19, of Kingston, and Aiden Meehen, 20, of Oxford.

Meehen faces an additional charge of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, police said.

Police also sought a warrant for Brennden Ortega, 19, of New Bedford, on similar charges, as well as resisting arrest.

“This premeditated and unlawful event endangered the public, obstructed emergency response, and disrupted the community’s peace,” police wrote.

‘Intolerable assaults on our police officers,’ officials say

Boston officials were quick to denounce the takeover event on Sunday.

“The outside individuals who came into our city to cause disorder and brought dangerous behavior here will be prosecuted,” Mayor Michelle Wu said during a press conference at the Roslindale Parade. “We are asking public’s help for any information to be able to do that as quickly as possible.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said the takeover events are “dangerous, intolerable assaults on our police officers and our neighborhoods.”

“We and our law enforcement partners will do all we can to identify and hold accountable anyone involved. No one should think they can jeopardize public safety in such a brazen manner without consequences,” Hayden said.

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