Police: Armed robbery and crack-dealer suspect punches cop in face in Roxbury

Boston Police report it took four officers to subdue a man they were questioning about a purse snatch yesterday morning on Juniper Street in Roxbury.

Police say Boima Howell, 38, of Roxbury, was being questioned around 8:30 a.m. outside 23 Juniper St. when he punched one of the officers in the face and tried to run away:

It took four officers to finally gain control of the suspect and place him in custody with three of those officers sustaining minor injuries. The officers later recovered a loaded .40 caliber Glock 23 handgun from the suspect's pants pocket along with 18 bags of crack cocaine.

Howell was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm (subsequent offense), unlawful possession of ammunition, assault and battery on a police officer with injuries, resisting arrest and possession of crack with intent to distribute.

Innocent, etc.