Boston Police Officer Jesse Kennedy lost custody of a suspect in Dorchester on Sunday, June 28, 2026, after a crowd overpowered him during an attempt to detain a rider. The officer was assaulted and had his body camera detached during the interaction.

Kennedy had responded to a radio call regarding a loud disturbance at approximately 9:24 p.m. at the intersection of Old Road and Ellington Street. A police report indicated that between 100 and 150 people were present, drinking, playing loud music, and operating vehicles that blocked the road. Kennedy parked his marked cruiser after activating blue lights and sirens.

He approached a dirt bike rider whose vehicle lacked a rear plate and placed his hands on the handlebars, requesting the rider dismount to verify registration. The unidentified male refused and insisted the bike was registered. Kennedy believed the rider's suggestion to look at the rear of the bike again was an attempt to escape.

The rider began to pull away, causing the bike, rider, and officer to fall. During the ensuing grapple, Kennedy and the suspect fell multiple times. A police report stated that members of the crowd began throwing items, including alcoholic beverages, at Kennedy. Viral videos showed the officer attempting to hold the suspect's hands behind his back while liquids and containers were thrown. Kennedy's body camera was knocked off his vest during the incident.

The suspect eventually pulled away from Kennedy and fled the scene. The officer was unable to maintain custody of the individual or the dirt bike due to the crowd's intervention. Additional officers arrived to clear the group, and a police report did not note any arrests of crowd members.

The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association commented on the incident on June 30, stating the event illustrates the department's understaffing. The Association wrote in a post on X, "Completely unacceptable. The disrespect is alarmingly disgraceful. This is Boston at its worst. If you think this type of behavior is remotely acceptable, you've lost your mind. Our cops deserve better." The Association added in another post, "Fewer cops means less safety. Being outnumbered on the streets is BAD FOR EVERYBODY."

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn stated on June 30 that any individuals involved in the assault should be arrested, prosecuted, and if convicted, a state sentence is warranted. Flynn wrote in a statement, "It should never be acceptable to assault a police officer or first responder. As a city, we can't allow this ongoing disrespect and violence against any police officer."