Arlington Man Arrested After Crew Boat Theft Chase

James Brett St. Clair, a 38-year-old Arlington resident, was arrested after allegedly stealing a truck towing the Arlington-Belmont Crew Team's trailer filled with racing shells and leading police on a high-speed pursuit through Arlington, Cambridge, and Belmont. The chase resulted in multiple hit-and-run crashes, significant property damage, and non-life-threatening injuries to at least three people, including a Cambridge police officer. Surveillance and witness accounts describe boats flying off the trailer and shells scattered across city streets. Eleven boats were destroyed or damaged, devastating the high school crew team, which had just returned from a regatta. St. Clair was arraigned on several charges, including larceny, destruction of property, and leaving the scene of injury, and is being held pending a competency hearing. The local community has expressed sympathy for the affected student-athletes and highlighted the emotional impact on the team.