Loaded firearm recovered during traffic stop in Dorchester

BOSTON — At approximately 2:30 a.m. on Friday, June 21, officers assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury) arrested Ronnie Powell, 38, of Roxbury, on firearms charges following a traffic stop in Dorchester.

Officers were patrolling the area of ​​Columbia Road when they observed a motor vehicle driver who was involved in a previous armed robbery.

The driver, whose driver’s license had been suspended, was not legally authorized to operate a motor vehicle.

As officers followed the vehicle, they noticed it failed to stop at a stop sign.

They activated their car’s hazard lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop and were able to stop the vehicle in the area of ​​97 Bird Street.

Officers made contact with the occupants of the vehicle and asked the driver to produce a driver’s license.

The driver said his license was suspended and officers asked him to get out of the vehicle.

During further investigation, officers recovered a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield firearm from the vehicle, with one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine.

Powell was placed under arrest and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Second Offense, Unlicensed Operation of a Vehicle motor and firearm violations with three violent and drug crimes.

He is expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court.