Boston police arrest Brighton ‘Tree Ninja’
The man known as Brighton’s ‘Tree Ninja’ was arrested Monday, Boston police said.
Officers were conducting surveillance in response to recent complaints that trees were being damaged on Peaceable Street, Winship Street, and Academy Hill Road when they saw Joe Rizza break the branch off a tree on private property, police said.
Rizza, 66, of Brighton, was out on bail for an April 2015 case, still pending in court, in which he was accused of chopping down or damaging trees in Brighton.
Police said Tuesday they believe Rizza is responsible for six other incidents of vandalism to trees in the same neighborhood.
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Rizza will face charges of willful and malicious destruction of property in Brighton District Court, according to police.
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