Traffic stop in Dorchester leads to fentanyl trafficking arrest, gun seizure

DORCHESTER — A routine check on an uninspected vehicle early Monday morning resulted in the arrest of a Dorchester man on multiple charges, including fentanyl trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Around 4:30 a.m. on June 24, Trooper Tim Moriarty of the SP-South Boston Barracks was monitoring traffic when he noticed a white Nissan Altima without an inspection sticker on Gallivan Boulevard.

A quick license plate check revealed the owner, Roniel Steele, 31, had an active arrest warrant.

Moriarty pulled Steele over and confirmed the warrant.

During the stop, he developed probable cause to search the vehicle for a firearm, with assistance from Troopers Joshua Harvey and Nivaldo Silva.

The search yielded a Springfield Hellcat 9MM handgun with a round in the chamber, additional ammunition, and two loaded magazines.

Further examination of the Altima uncovered three bags of marijuana totaling 1.9 ounces and 15 baggies of fentanyl weighing 16 grams.

Steele’s license to carry a firearm had been suspended prior to the incident.

Steele was taken to the SP-South Boston Barracks for booking procedures.

He faces charges including possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without FID, possession of ammunition without FID, possession of a firearm during a felony, trafficking in fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, and driving with no inspection sticker.

He was arraigned in Dorchester District Court following the arrest.