Bedford Man Charged in Burglary, Vandalism of Boston Shrine

BOSTON, MA — A man allegedly captured on video breaking into and vandalizing a St. Anthony's Shrine in Downtown Boston was arraigned Monday and held without bail on unrelated charges.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, 33-year-old Erik Swanson was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on charges of breaking and entering a building in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony, larceny over $250, and malicious destruction of property over $250 in connection, as well as charges of trespassing and receiving stolen property stemming. He was additionally arraigned on charges of possession of a Class A substance, possession of a Class A substance as a subsequent offense, and a municipal bylaw violation alleging possession of a crack pipe.

The hefty list of charges followed Swanson's arrest by Boston Police, who believed he was the individual caught on video vandalizing and stealing from St. Anthony’s Shrine early Friday morning.

According to the DA's office, police found Swanson in a parking lot marked "No Trespassing" Sunday, wearing clothes similar to those seen in the St. Anthony's security footage. Boston Police say that when officers placed Swanson under arrest, they found he had several stolen items, including checkbooks, purses, and phone chargers, as well as religious items.

A judge set bail Monday at $3,500, but subsequently revoked it due to two other cases in the same court.

Additionally, the DA's office said, Swanson was arraigned on drug possession charges related to a July 26 drug investigation in which Boston Police observed an alleged drug transaction in the area of Reggie Wong Park. Swanson was found to have a crack pipe and drugs were recovered from a person with whom he was stopped, prosecutors said.

Swanson returns to court Dec. 12.

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