What was not exactly a quiet Friday on Warren Avenue ended with an 18-year-old in handcuffs and at least one firearm off the street, according to Malden police.
Officers serving a search warrant at a residence on the street arrested Tristan White-Stewart on firearm-related charges. Police say he is legally barred from possessing a gun in Massachusetts and is expected to be arraigned in Malden District Court. The department added that officers will maintain an increased presence in the Warren Avenue area while investigators continue follow-up work.
Details of the operation were shared on the Malden Police Department's Facebook page. According to the Malden Police Department, members of the Special Operations Unit, including the Criminal Investigations Division and Officer Blake Ferry, obtained and executed the warrant. The post notes that investigators recovered at least one firearm and that White-Stewart was legally prohibited from having a gun in the Commonwealth. The department also thanked Massachusetts State Police, the Lynn Police Department, Melrose Police (K9 Giselle) and the North Metro S.W.A.T. team for assisting with the operation.
How Police Ran The Warren Avenue Warrant
Malden's Special Operations Unit typically handles more complex investigations that call for tactical, canine and investigative resources to work in sync. In this case, those teams were used to secure the Warren Avenue location while detectives collected evidence. With the investigation still active, police did not release additional operational details.
What “Prohibited From Possessing” Means Under State Law
Massachusetts requires most gun owners to have either a License to Carry or a Firearms Identification card. State law also bars certain people from lawful firearm possession, and violations can bring felony penalties, according to Mass.gov. Prosecutors are expected to rely on those statutes as they review the evidence collected in the search.
Part Of A Broader Crackdown In Malden
The Warren Avenue search is the latest targeted enforcement effort in the city. Detectives previously seized drugs, cash and a firearm in a June 2025 operation during a separate probe. Police leaders have increasingly highlighted multi-agency cooperation and the use of tactical assets in efforts to remove illegal weapons from neighborhoods, a trend that has been emphasized in recent city communications.
What Happens Next In Court
White-Stewart is expected to be arraigned in Malden District Court. As the department noted on its Facebook page, “the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.” Prosecutors will make a final decision on formal charges once detectives complete their investigation and present the case to the district attorney's office.
