BOSTON — Officers from the Boston Police Department’s District B-3 (Mattapan) arrested 25-year-old Ezequiel Rodriguez of Dorchester on Monday, Nov. 4, after recovering a firearm, ammunition, and drugs during a response to a report of an armed person near the Joseph Lee School.
The arrest occurred at 10:29 a.m. following a subject stop during an investigation initiated by information about individuals with firearms outside the school, located at 155 Talbot Ave.
Officers patrolling near Westview St. and the school encountered three males behind the building.
As the officers approached on foot, one male advanced toward them while the other two fled toward Talbot Ave.
The officers pursued the two individuals, observing them clutching their waistbands, until they lost sight of the suspects after they turned onto Bernard St.
A police K9 unit was requested, and multiple officers began canvassing the area.
One officer and his K9 partner, Buddy, signaled toward a bush on the school property, leading to the discovery of a firearm hidden inside.
Rodriguez, initially observed by officers searching the ground behind the school while on a phone call, was stopped and released after determining he did not possess a weapon.
However, he was later seen leaving a residence on Helen St. with a backpack he had not previously had.
A subsequent stop for investigation revealed he was trespassing and a search of the backpack uncovered eight Xanax bars in a sandwich bag.
Detectives confirmed the firearm to be a Glock 26 with one 9mm round in the chamber and a 40-round magazine containing thirty-nine 9mm rounds.
Rodriguez is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of trespassing and possession of a Class C drug.
The Boston Police Department continues to investigate the incident and urges anyone with information to contact District B-3 Detectives at (617) 343-4712.
