Loaded Firearm Recovered After a Traffic Stop in Dorchester

At about 2:48 AM, on Monday, October 28, 2024, officers assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury) arrested Joshua Smith, 21, of Boston, on firearm charges.

Officers were on patrol in the area of the Jewish War Veterans Drive to address community complaints of reveler cars congregating in the area. Officers observed a large amount of reveler cars playing loud music and blocking the road.

As officers arrived on scene, the large group began to disperse and observed a group sprinting to a vehicle that was illegally parked. Officers gave verbal commands for the operator to stop the vehicle, which he completely disregarded.

The operator put his vehicle in reverse, and then drove around the officers' cruiser. Officers activated their cruiser's emergency lights and sirens to initiate a motor vehicle stop. Officers were able to safely stop the vehicle in the area of Jewish War Veterans Drive and Franklin Park Road.

Officers made contact with the occupants of the vehicle and requested all their identifications. After further investigation, officers requested the occupants to exit the vehicle. Officers conducted a pat frisk of all the individuals and recovered a firearm from one of the rear passengers. The firearm was later determined to be a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield with one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine.

Smith was placed under arrest and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm. He is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.