A routine Dorchester traffic stop over a missed stop sign ended with Boston police arresting two men and seizing two loaded handguns and a bottle of pills on Tuesday night, according to the Boston Police Department. The suspects were identified as 29-year-old Thomas Searcy of Boston and 38-year-old Charles Phillips of Jamaica Plain, who were taken into custody and are expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.
Officers assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury) said they first spotted the vehicle blow through a stop sign at Eldon Street and Washington Street and also noticed excessively tinted windows. They followed the car to 28 Hewins Street, where it finally pulled over. Police said the passenger initially gave false identifying information and kept shifting a bag between his feet, behavior that led officers to order both men out of the vehicle.
A pat frisk and search turned up a firearm in the vehicle and, a short time later, a second gun along with a pill bottle. Inside the bottle, officers reported finding two small bags of colored pills believed to be ecstasy, according to the department.
What Officers Found And Who Was Charged
The first firearm recovered was a Taurus G2C with one round in the chamber and a ten-round magazine. The second was a Smith & Wesson SD40VE with one round in the chamber and a 13-round magazine.
As detailed on the Boston Police Department (Official) page, Searcy faces two counts each of carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and possession of a large-capacity firearm.
Phillips faces similar counts, including a firearm violation with two prior violent or drug crimes and a possession of a Class B substance charge. According to the department post, he also had outstanding warrants from Malden and Quincy District Courts for assault and battery.
State Law And Penalties
Under Massachusetts law, a "large capacity feeding device" is defined as any magazine or similar device that can accept more than 10 rounds, according to the General Court. Penalties for unlawful possession of large-capacity firearms and related offenses are set out in state statute and can include multi-year prison terms, per Mass.gov.
Dorchester Enforcement In Context
The stop comes on the heels of other recent Dorchester traffic stops where officers reported recovering illegal firearms and drugs. Earlier this month, local coverage highlighted a multi-agency probe that turned up several guns and suspected narcotics, described as a multi-agency Dorchester bust.
Boston Police say the two men arrested on April 21 will be arraigned in Dorchester District Court, and detectives continue to investigate the case, according to the department.
