Four youths were arrested and are facing multiple gun charges after police recovered several firearms and at least two stolen cars this weekend.
Massachusetts State Police say troopers first received reports of several motor vehicle thefts on Friday, including a white Volkswagen Jetta that was stolen out of Boston, a Jeep Grand Cherokee taken from Milton, and a white Honda CR-V that was stolen from Braintree.
Troopers found the Jeep and the Honda shortly before 10 p.m. in an empty parking lot at the end of a dead-end, residential street in Dedham, police said. Once they confirmed the vehicles were stolen, the scene was secured for processing.
A short time later, a silver Honda Pilot drove down the dead-end street. When it was in eyesight of the tow truck and full marked state police cruiser, police say it reversed direction and returned to the main road.
Troopers, who believed the Honda Pilot was returning to the parking lot to pick up the stolen vehicles, pulled the vehicle over and noticed several people inside moving frantically, with a boy jumping out of the rear passenger door and running away as police approached, according to police.
Troopers detained three others, who also tried to get away.
The driver of the Honda Pilot told troopers that she was working as a rideshare driver and had unknowingly transported the suspects, according to police, who said troopers later located four firearms inside her vehicle from the area where the suspects were seated — one of which was in plain view, laying on the floor of the backseat.
A subsequent search of the car led to the three additional firearms.
Police say several of the weapons contained large capacity magazines which are capable of holding more than ten rounds. One of the weapon’s serial numbers was defaced, and another was found with a switch device — a small, illegal attachment that makes a pistol fully automatic, like a machine gun.
Troopers also discovered a 40MM round on one of the youths as they were conducting searches of all three, a standard part of the arrest process.
Shortly after, Boston police located the fourth suspect, who had initially got away, behind a business on River Street, state police said.
All four youths were taken to the Milton barracks for booking. Their names are not being released given their ages.
According to police, when troopers looked up their information, they found several warrants for crimes including armed robbery, home invasion, firearms offenses, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, vandalism of property, and breaking and entering, among other charges.
All suspects were ordered to by held without bail by the bail commissioner, and they were transferred to the Department of Youth Services, police said. All four will be charged with possession of a loaded machine gun, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession of a firearm without an FID card, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and defacing a firearm serial number.
One of the youths is facing an additional charge of resisting arrest, police added.
State police thanked both Dedham and Boston police for their collaboration.
Anyone with information about criminal activity, including auto theft and illegal firearms, is encouraged to share it with local or state police.
About the Author
