Crime

Wakefield man allegedly created disturbance in Boston Primark, threatened to ‘blow this place up’

The suspect is also accused of assaulting a store security guard and responding police officers.

Suzanne Kreiter / The Boston Globe, File

By Adora Brown

1 minute to read

A Wakefield man was arraigned on Monday on a variety of charges after he allegedly caused a disturbance inside the Primark in Boston’s Downtown Crossing on Saturday afternoon, assaulting a security guard and responding police officers and threatening to “blow this place up,” authorities said.

The suspect, William Rodriguez-Juarez, 24, was charged with unarmed robbery, making a bomb or hijack threat, assault and battery on a police officer, strangulation or suffocation, trespassing, resisting arrest, and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (shod foot), according to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.

Police responded to the situation around 4:42 p.m. Saturday. Officers arrived to Rodriguez-Juarez, seemingly intoxicated, yelling at employees inside the store, authorities said.

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Before police arrived, Rodriguez-Juarez was in the employee-only loading dock. There, he allegedly resisted requests to leave the store while yelling, screaming, and making sexual comments toward employees and customers. “Rodriguez-Juarez then became aggressive and tried to leave with store merchandise while threatening to ‘blow this place up,’” the DA’s office said.

When officers arrived, Rodriguez-Juarez allegedly assaulted the security guard by holding his hands behind his back and yelling at officers, “You need to arrest him.” When ordered to release the guard, Rodriguez-Juarez began to kick and push officers, authorities said.

Officers eventually arrested Rodriguez-Juarez but not before he allegedly bit an officer’s arm. He also continued to kick and punch officers, the DA’s office said.

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During his arraignment, Judge Joseph Griffin set bail at $500 and ordered Rodriguez-Juarez to stay away from the Downton Crossing area.

Rodriguez-Juarez has a probable cause hearing set for Aug. 12.

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