A vandal was arrested for going on a “one-man crime spree” through downtown Boston, smashing windows at the city’s Holocaust memorial, damaging a police cruiser and even vandalizing Paul Revere’s tombstone.
Lawrence Hawkins, 46, is accused of breaking windows at eight different sites and damaging 20 tombstones, including that of the Revolutionary War icon Revere famous for warning the colonists that “the British are coming” in 1775.
Hawkins, who was living at a shelter, allegedly hurled bricks and rocks through the windows and doors of multiple businesses and federal buildings as well as the glass towers that make up the New England Holocaust Memorial from late Saturday night into the early morning hours Sunday, NBC10 Boston reported.
Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Samuel Jones described Hawkins’ alleged vandalism as “his own one-man crime spree in downtown Boston” during a court hearing Monday, according to the local news station.
Hawkins was charged with vandalism, malicious destruction of property, injuring a religious building and is expected to receive more charges for the damage to federal property.
He was ordered to be held for a mental health evaluation and on $22,500 bail for all three charges.
“My goal is to make sure that he gets the help and service that he needs to be stabilized to see if he understands the nature of the charges against him, which he does not seem to at this time,” said Robert Glotzer, Hawkins’ defense attorney, who also noted that he’s had challenges trying to speak with the man so far.
Boston cops were just steps behind Hawkins during his reign of terror. Surveillance footage helped them realize that the same person was responsible for the string of odd acts of vandalism which began just after 11:30 p.m. and continued past 3 a.m.
Investigators pieced together Hawkin’s movements through the clips to capture the extent of the damage across the downtown area.
He was then arrested at around 4:30 a.m. inside a shelter but yet again destroyed others’ property upon his release — this time targeting a graveyard.
Hawkins allegedly pulled 14 tombstones out of the ground, causing them to break into tiny pieces, in the Granary Burying Ground.
He vandalized another at the adjacent King’s Chapel Burying Ground, the station reported.
During his court hearing Monday, Hawkins had several outbursts, including clapping when the judge ordered he undergo a mental health evaluation.
Hawkins’s attorney said he has a history of schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder.