At about 4:38am, on Monday, January 17, 2011, officers from Area E-13 (Jamaica Plain) responded to a radio call for a person breaking into cars in the area of 85 Tower Street. While en route to the call, officers received a description of the suspect via police dispatch. According to the dispatcher, the suspect was described as a black male dressed in dark or dark gray clothing. In short time, responding units observed an individual who fit the description of the suspect. As a result, officers approached the suspect in order to further investigate the incident. When asked what he was doing in the area, the suspect stated he was just walking. Suspect further stated that a friend, whose name he could not remember or provide, had just dropped him off in the area.   

Officers met with the caller who stated that he had been sleeping when a loud noise outside his home awoke him. Consequently, the victim looked outside his window and, upon doing so, observed a black male, dressed in black clothing, holding a flashlight, rummaging through several motor vehicles.

Officers observed damage to two motor vehicles in the area of 85 Tower Street. Specifically, officers located two motor vehicles with smashed front passenger-side windows. In addition to the aforementioned, a search of the immediate area enabled officers to locate two additional cars displaying similar damages in the area of 67 Tower Street.  All four cars appear to be recently rummaged through.

A search of the suspect enabled officers to locate a small flashlight, a Saab key and over twenty dollars in loose change. When asked about the Saab key, the suspect stated, “It belongs to my friend.” 

Officers arrested Earl Joseph, 36, of Boston and charged him with Breaking & Entering a Motor Vehicle and Willful & Malicious Destruction of Property.