Locals surprised by Bulger arrest

Area residents expressed shock about Wednesday’s arrest of alleged Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger.Bulger had been on the lam for so long, some people thought he would never be caught.”It was more shocking than Osama,” said Sean Kelliher in the Swampscott Starbucks in Vinnin Square of Bulger’s arrest. “I never thought they had a chance of finding him.”He speculated that the FBI had its reasons for not arresting Bulger sooner.”I thought the FBI didn’t want to find him. That he knew too much and he could bring them down,” said Kelliher.He also expressed surprise that Bulger was found living with long-time girlfriend Catherine Greig in Santa Monica, Calif.”I thought he would be somewhere in the Mediterranean,” said Kelliher.That sentiment was echoed by Lynn resident Marie Leclair.”I couldn’t believe he was still in the country. I was very surprised,” she said.The Lynn resident grew up in Boston and remembers the power Bulger had over the city when he was the leader of the Winter Hill Gang.”The Winter Hill Gang was notorious,” said Leclair. “They terrorized the city. You couldn’t walk out of the house without seeing a dead body.”While most believe that Bulger never wanted to be caught, Leclair believes otherwise.”I think he wanted to get caught. It has been so long. He must be tired of running,” said Leclair.Bulger has been charged in connection with 19 murders.”He had his fingers in a lot of stuff. He had so much control over the city,” said Leclair. “I’m glad they caught him.”James Price cheered Bulger’s capture during an interview in Rolly’s Tavern in Wyoma Square in Lynn.”It took so long, but it is a great thing,” said Price.But he acknowledged other people feel differently.”Some people think he did a lot of good for the city,” said Price. “They have to prove he is guilty. He has the right to a fair trial just like anyone else.”The fact that the 81-year-old gangster was caught alive was surprising to some.”I thought he was dead,” said Swampscott Starbucks manager Caroline Minneci. “I mean, he is 81 years old.””I thought he had passed away. I was shocked he was still alive,” said Geoff Shey in the Swampscott Starbucks in Vinnin Square.The FBI credits the arrest of Bulger to its recent campaign focusing on his longtime girlfriend.Now that Bulger is behind bars, an impending trial is now what is on locals’ minds.”He needs to go to trial and hopefully they will find out other people that have been involved in his crimes,” said Leclair.