Residents of New Bedford's south-end were witness to an alarming disturbance this past Sunday that led to an intense police encounter and subsequent arrest. Marcell Goncalves, 27, faced officers responding to reports of a person brandishing a firearm near David St. and Salisbury St. The event quickly escalated when Goncalves, upon noticing Officer James Sullivan, discarded his cross-body bag and attempted to abruptly flee, resulting in a scuffle. The intervention of a good Samaritan, however, played a key part in helping authorities to subdue and detain him.
According to the New Bedford Police Department's Facebook page, the search of Goncalves' bag revealed a P80 Polymer "Ghost gun" loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition, lacking a serial number. Two other weapons—an unlicensed knife and brass knuckles—were found on his person. Goncalves is no stranger to the law with 19 adult arraignments, 13 of which had previously been dismissed. He now faces a litany of serious charges, including carrying a loaded firearm without a license and possession of a firearm without a serial number.
Following his arrest, Goncalves was identified to have a past conviction for firearm possession dating back to 2018, alongside an ongoing case involving the possession of a high-capacity feeding device from an incident earlier this April. His continued entanglement with the law has resulted in him currently being held without bail at the Dartmouth House of Correction.
As the investigation continues, authorities are looking to gather more information and are encouraging anyone with knowledge on the subject to come forward. Community members can anonymously contact the New Bedford police either through their website or by calling the dedicated number for crime tips.
