Neighbors: Matanov 'Quiet', Police 'In And Out' Throughout Past Year
QUINCY (CBS) -- Neighbors of the man charged with obstructing the Boston Marathon Bombings investigation described him as quiet and polite.
Following the arrest of Khairullozhon Matanov, 23, on Friday, two neighbors said Matanov was a cab driver who always said "hello" and "goodbye" when passing by in the apartment complex where he has lived for about a year-and-a-half.
However, two neighbors, Tyler Young, and a woman who declined to give her name, also noted that they saw police going in and out of the building a week after the bombings and throughout the past year. Plain clothes and uniformed officers would also remain outside and monitored the apartment.
"I only had suspicions just because of the police presence that were here," Young told WBZ-TV.
"About a week after the bombings, there was FBI here, Quincy Police. I've seen them in and out over the year and the last marathon, there was police here the entire day."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports
Neighbors: Matanov 'Quiet', Police 'In And Out' Throughout Past Year
Although authorities were frequently seen speaking with Matanov, neighbors never connected him to the bombing suspects.
At 4:30 a.m. on Friday, those neighbors who talked to WBZ say they heard a commotion as police broke down the door of Matanov's apartment.
Leslie Aiello's apartment is directly above Matanov's. She heard and felt the wave of police as they arrested him before sunrise.
"I heard a man saying 'We have a warrant out for your arrest' and I heard three big bangs and I guess they were trying to get into his apartment to get him," she told WBZ. "Very scary. I'm still shaking, I can't stop shaking."
Matanov reportedly had a roommate who has not been identified.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
Fellow Cabbies Shocked By Charges Against Matanov
The owner of Braintree Checker Cab confirmed to WBZ-TV that Matanov leased a cab from them for the last two to three years and never had a problem with him, but added that Matanov won't be working for him any more after Friday's arrest.
A Checker Cab was in the apartment complex parking lot Friday morning. Neighbors told WBZ-TV it is Matanov's taxi.
Some of the drivers who know Matanov said they referred to him as "K" because they could not pronounce his first name. They also said he was a nice student who was a hard worker interested in soccer.
One driver told WBZ-TV's Christina Hager he knew Matanov had played soccer with at least one of the Tsarnaev brothers.
"I couldn't believe he was involved in it. I'm sure he know some of the players, but I think people from that part of the world all know each other because the community around here is fairly small," the unidentified driver said.
"I don't know anybody here who didn't like him."
WBZ-TV's Christina Hager reports
WBZ-TV's Bill Shields reports
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