A Connecticut teen accused of throwing a firework at a police cruiser during a street takeover in Boston in October, causing the vehicle to go up in flames, was arrested at his apartment in Norwalk on Thursday.
David Antonio Moran-Chavez, 19, was charged as a fugitive from justice, according to Lt. Tomasz Podgorski of the Norwalk Police Department. He was taken into custody with assistance from detectives and the department’s Emergency Services Unit Tactical Response Team.
Podgorski said investigators with the Boston Police Department had an arrest warrant charging Moran-Chavez with felony and misdemeanor counts of conspiracy, disturbing the peace, burning of a motor vehicle and fireworks violations. They also had a warrant to search his apartment.
The charges stem from an incident on Oct. 5 around 2:30 a.m. when police responded to a street takeover at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Tremont Street in Boston, Massachusetts. Officers tried to disperse the crowd but were “met with resistance,” Podgorski said.
According to Podgorski, fireworks were thrown and individuals jumped on police vehicles and struck the windows. One of the fireworks that was thrown caused a police cruiser to ignite and become fully engulfed in flames, according to Podgorski.
Boston detectives were able to identify the suspect who threw the firework as Moran-Chavez, Podgorski said. Norwalk police were contacted about the case in early November and spent multiple weeks helping the Boston Police Auto Theft Unit gather more information and intelligence on Moran-Chavez in order to apprehend him.
During the search on Thursday, Podgorski said investigators found and seized “several” unspecified items reportedly tied to the street takeover allegations.
Moran-Chavez’s bond was set at $500,000 while he awaits extradition to Massachusetts. He is scheduled to face a judge in Connecticut on Dec. 18.