Officers Recover a Firearm After a Traffic Stop in Dorchester

At about 2:15 AM, on Thursday, April 18, 2024, officers assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury) arrested James Perry Jr., 28, of Dorchester, on firearm related charges.

Officers were on patrol in the area of Columbia Road when they observed a motor vehicle operating at a high rate of speed. The officers then observed the vehicle slow down to make a right hand turn onto Hamilton Street.

At this time, officers activated their marked cruiser's emergency lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop. Officers approached the motor vehicle, and advised the operator of the reason for the stop. Officers requested for the operator to produce a driver's license and registration. Officers immediately observed multiple empty alcohol bottles inside the vehicle with one being in the front cup holder. The operator was also unable to locate a registration for the vehicle.

Officers were able to determine that the operator's driver's license was expired, and requested that he exit the vehicle. The suspect was now holding a backpack between his legs, and refused to get out of the vehicle. Officers were able to assist the suspect out of the vehicle, and he began to resist arrest.

The suspect grabbed his backpack, and sprinted from officers. A foot pursuit ensued, and officers requested assistance from responding officers to apprehend the suspect. Officers converged on the area, and were able to stop the suspect, who continued to resist officers as they attempted to place him into handcuffs.

Officers were able to handcuff the suspect, and recovered a firearm from inside his backpack. The firearm was later determined to be a Springfield XD-9 with one round in the chamber, and eleven rounds in the magazine. The magazine was a high-capacity magazine, capable of holding thirteen rounds.

Perry Jr. was placed under arrest and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and resisting arrest. He is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.