Holocaust Memorial Attacks: 2 Charged With Separate Attacks

BOSTON, MA — On a day where the nation - and its president - were still exploring the raw wounds of this weekend's horror in Charlottesville, two Boston-area people were arraigned in connection of separate incidents of vandalizing the New England Holocaust Memorial. The Memorial has been the subject of three attacks over the past six weeks.

A 17-year-old from Malden on Monday night threw a rock that shattered a glass panel etched with thousands of numbers representing the six million Jews slaughtered by the Nazis, prosecutors allege. An off-duty DEA agent and an off-duty Boston firefighter witnessed the alleged incident and held him until Boston Police arrived.

The teen was in possession of a folding knife with a four-inch blade and a small bag of marijuana, prosecutors said.

He was arraigned in Boston Juvenile Court on charges of disorderly conduct, malicious destruction of property over $250, and causing injury over $5,000 to a church, synagogue or memorial. He was released on his own recognizance with orders to stay away from the memorial and comply with mental health treatment.

Police on Monday morning also arrested a Boston man for damaging flowers placed at the memorial's site. Said Bout, 37, who told police he lives at a Boston mental health facility, was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on charges of vandalizing a grave planting and disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $5,000, and revoked in Bouzit’s pending case charging assault and battery on a corrections officer.

A witness photographing damage to the memorial took photos of the Bouzit causing damage, prosecutors said. Bouzit fled but was stopped by a patrolling Boston Police officer near Washington Street.

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Suffolk Conley DA Dan Conley's point prosecutor on hate crimes and detectives assigned to the Boston Police Civil Rights Unit are investigating.

"Acts like these are disgraceful at any time, but they're even more reprehensible in the aftermath of the hate-fueled violence in Charlottesville," Conley said. "Everyone – no matter their race, religion, gender, or how they define their families – has the right to feel safe, welcome and respected in Boston and Suffolk County."

Image Credit: AP Photos/Steven Senne