Four charged as dumbass teens setting off fireworks on downtown streets in the middle of the day

Boston Police report four teens were arrested yesterday on charges they shot off fireworks at Summer and Arch streets and on Washington Street near Milk Street yesterday afternoon.

The alleged leader of the dumbass pack, a 16-year-old from Quincy, who police say fought the law and lost, was arrested and brought down to A-1 to be booked as a delinquent for throwing, secreting, launching or placing an incendiary device. Police say he had an unexploded firework in his backpack.

His three pals were caught and released - with summonses to appear in court on the same charge.

According to police, around 3:25 p.m.,

Officers assigned to District A-1 (Downtown) responded to reports of a large explosion in the area of Summer Street at Arch Street in Downtown Boston. On arrival, officers spoke with several concerned citizens who stated that a group of teenagers had been observed igniting some sort of incendiary device in the crosswalk of the intersection. As the officers were investigating on scene, they heard the sound of another large explosion coming from the area of Downtown Crossing. The officers quickly responded to the area of 335 Washington Street where they observed firework debris in the street. While on scene, officers were approached by witnesses who stated that four teenage males had utilized a black cylinder to launch fireworks in the street before fleeing on foot and entering a nearby business. The officers then entered that business and located four juvenile suspects matching the provided descriptions, ultimately recovering the black cylinder from a backpack while arresting the suspect, later identified as a 16-year-old male from Quincy. The suspect was placed in custody following a brief struggle at which time the officers recovered an unexploded firework from his person.