West Roxbury Man Charged With Public Drinking Outside John Kerry's Home

Written by Jake O'Donnell

Boston Police released more information Monday on the arrest of a West Roxbury man who was allegedly taking pictures of the windows with a pellet gun in his vehicle outside U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's Beacon Hill home Sunday.

According to police, the man, Vladimir Romanov, 29, of West Roxbury, faces a charge of drinking alcoholic beverages in public, for which he was expected in Boston Municipal Court Monday.

Police said officers from District A-1 responded to 19 Louisburg Square at 4:08 p.m. Sunday after members of the State Department Diplomatic Security Service observed a man taking pictures of the windows of Kerry's home.

Agents said they observed an open container of alcohol in the man's vehicle and then contacted police.

Police said they found Romanov "to be unsteady on his feet, with glassy eyes and the smell of alcohol emanating from his breath." When asked for identification, Romanov said he couldn't do it at that point, according to police.

Romanov's vehicle was searched after his arrest and a pellet gun was found, clearly visible, as well as three cell phones, a TomTom navigation system, a black canvass bag containing several CO2 cartridges and an open container of alcohol, police said.