a day ago
Man arrested on gun charge after residents argue with police during confrontation near Mattapan park
The two who went into the park returned when police left, and police decided to return with additional officers to investigate further, police wrote.
When the reinforced officers arrived on the scene, 'the group now became hostile towards officers, and one of the earlier individuals was once again seen walking into the park.'
Once inside the park, the man started running from police who allegedly noticed he was holding something in his waistband as he ran, police wrote.
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The man ran across the park and was confronted by police as he ran toward them, police wrote.
The man was seen 'running towards them while holding his waistband. The officers drew their department issued firearms and ordered the suspect to stop,' police wrote.
At that point, the man allegedly tossed an item aside. Police said they found a discarded firearm next to the suspect which was identified as a Glock 43 with one round in the chamber and nine rounds in the magazine.
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The suspect was identified as Joshua Villar-Diaz, 21, of Brighton, police said. He was scheduled to be arraigned in Dorchester Municipal Court Thursday on multiple charges, including carrying a firearm without a license, second offense, police said.
As police were handcuffing the suspect, officers who had remained on Orlando Street reported 'that the crowd was attempting to surround them. Officers from various Districts converged on the area to assist with dispersing the crowd. Multiple members of the group were enticing violence and threatened physical harm to officers.'
Once the tense situation calmed down, police wrote that a 'cinder block was thrown through the rear windshield (of a cruiser) causing it to smash, and the rear driver's side tire was slashed.'
John R. Ellement can be reached at
