In a series of crackdowns on illegal firearm possession, New Bedford police have reported the arrest of three individuals in separate incidents. According to a social media post from the New Bedford Police Department, the arrests took place over the span of two weeks last month.
The first case involved 19-year-old Quinn Raposo, who was apprehended in the Dias Field lot on the evening of November 12. Officers Jonathan Andrews and Shawn Raposo, of the Crime Reduction Unit, were on patrol when they noticed a vehicle with passengers inside, despite the park's after-dark closure. Upon inspection, smoke was seen coming from inside the vehicle, alongside marijuana joints and an open container of alcohol. Raposo, found with both a knife and a firearm, was charged with several firearm-related offenses, including carrying a loaded weapon without a license.
On the following day, 21-year-old Victor Monteiro was arrested after police received a tip regarding his possession of a firearm. Lacking a Massachusetts License to Carry and with prior firearm and assault convictions, Monteiro fled on foot but was apprehended. He admitted to discarding the weapon, which was later recovered by detectives.
The third arrest came on November 20, when Detectives Jacob Rebello and Matthew Couture pulled over a vehicle in the area of County and Linden Streets for vehicle infractions. The passenger, Dwaine Muhammad, was found with a firearm that was unserialized, alongside three rounds of ammunition. The 19-year-old was taken into custody, charged with possession of a loaded firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without an FID card. The driver was only cited for the vehicle violations.
These cases underline New Bedford Police Department's ongoing effort to curb illegal firearm possession in the city. Community members are encouraged to provide any pertinent information to the authorities. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling 508-99-CRIME or visiting the department's website.
