A man from Boston is currently facing several charges after allegedly stealing two cars and engaging in multiple hit-and-run crashes throughout the city in January 2024, as announced by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office on Monday.
Carmen Polito, 42, has been charged with numerous offenses including leaving the scene of a car accident involving property damage, receiving stolen motor vehicles, and operating a vehicle with a suspended license.
The incidents began on January 20, 2024, when Boston police received a 911 call about a person attempting to forcibly open car doors on Commonwealth Avenue around 10:30 p.m.
Witnesses reported seeing Polito, who was later identified as the suspect, trying to gain access to vehicles while brandishing a knife and attempting to enter a stopped car at a red light.
Shortly following this, another call alerted police to a hit-and-run accident at the intersection of Massachusetts and Commonwealth Avenues in the Back Bay neighborhood.
The caller, who was parked when a black Mercedes sideswiped his truck causing minor damage, reported that the same stolen Mercedes, driven by Polito, had collided forcefully with a Nissan Rogue, causing a chain reaction that involved another vehicle.
Witnesses indicated that Polito’s reckless driving with the stolen Mercedes included reversing and then driving forward repeatedly, resulting in multiple crashes involving the Nissan Rogue.
As events escalated, a third 911 call notified authorities of another hit-and-run incident where a Nissan SUV was involved in sideswiping vehicles near the intersection of Belvidere Street and Massachusetts Avenue.
Additionally, a fourth call reported an SUV recklessly driving in circles and crashing into cars along Westland Avenue.
Quickly responding to these incidents, a Massachusetts State Police trooper spotted the stolen Nissan on Frontage Road and initiated a pursuit, which continued into Quincy where the vehicle was eventually pulled over.
Polito was identified as the driver and was subsequently taken to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation, where he was admitted for extended treatment.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden commented on the chaotic events, noting, “This hectic and dangerous incident left drivers frightened, cars damaged, and the safety of motorists and pedestrians along its extended route seriously threatened.”
He added that it was fortunate that no injuries resulted from the chaos.
Polito has a lengthy criminal history, featuring a 13-page record filled with various assault charges, including assault and battery against a police officer.
In January 2023, he was sentenced to two years in prison following an incident where he led police on a foot chase near Northeastern University and was eventually subdued using a beanbag round.
During his arraignment in Roxbury District Court, a judge set Polito’s bail at $2,000.
He is scheduled to return to court on July 17.
image source from：masslive
