Articles Posted in Illegal Weapons Possession

…And then there is the story of Dorchester’s 28-year-old Yongda Huang Harris (hereinafter, the “Defendant”). His tale of woe seems a natural follow-up to yesterday’s blog when we discussed how things you say can get you into trouble.

For the Defendant, it was what he wore.

You see, the Defendant was heading home to the Commonwealth from Los Angeles International Airport, where he had a stopover on the way from Japan. He was in the airport when a customs agent’s attention was drawn to the fact that the Defendant was sporting some unusual clothing.

The Defendant was sporting a bulletproof vest along with the matching flame-retardant leggings and trench coat.

Curiosity aroused, the agents searched the Defendant’s luggage where say they found an array of items which got even more interesting. They say that the weird weaponry and other items they found included a smoke grenade, a hatchet, three knives, leather-coated lead-filled billy clubs, leg irons, handcuffs and body bags.

Interest turned into arrest due to the smoke grenade. The charge was charge was transporting hazardous material on an airplane. It is a charge to be answered in federal court.

The Defendant has retained L.A. Attorney Steven A. Seiden. Chris Williams, a spokesman for Seiden (who, in turn, would be speaking for the Defendant) has explained that this is one of those molehills transitioned into a mountain.

He claims that the interesting get-up and accessories were simply the Defendant’s latest fashion choice from the Far East, from whence he was returning.

“It was more of a fashion accessory than anything else,” explained Williams. “When you’re living abroad, you try to assimilate. And the Japanese kids, sometimes they wear wrestling shoes or knee pads. … When you’re in Japan, these kids wear unique little outfits.”

The Defendant is a naturalized U.S. citizen of Chinese descent and a graduate of Boston University’s Metropolitan College. While in Japan, he had been teaching English.

Attorney Sam’s Take On Questionable Fashion Statements

Well, now you know why Batman never travels in a commercial airplane.
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Things in Malden are getting just a little more intense. After four episodes of gun violence culminating in a September 10th shooting of one teenager by another (allegedly) in broad daylight on a busy street, police are taking action. This action is summed up in one word.

Sweep.

Officers from two regional departments swept through Malden parks and common areas looking for drugs and guns, city officials said. Unfortunately, they admit, nobody was arrested and no weapons were found…but a small amount of marijuana was found and confiscated.

As you may recall, possession of a small amount of marijuana is no longer an arrestable crime.

“This to me was more about perception than it was about looking to make actual arrests,” said Mayor Gary Christenson, who made public safety one of the focuses of his campaign when he was elected in November 2011. Not surprisingly, then, the sweep was deemed a success.

Attorney Sam’s Take On Police Sweeps And You

Despite my typical sarcasm, there are two pieces of good news in this story…and then one bad one.
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On Wednesday night, at approximately 9:53pm, according to reports, Boston police officers assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force were patrolling an area near Lyford and Oakhurst Streets, not far from the border between Dorchester and Mattapan, when several shots were heard. Police then saw several males chasing a single male, hopped out of their cruisers, and ordered the minors to stop. Only the one who looked like he was being chased obeyed. He then explained that the pack he was fleeing had shot at him.

Police soon found a male trying to hide by lying in the backyard of a nearby house. The suspect had several rounds of ammunition in his pocket and a gun consistent with that ammunition was found close by. Several spent rounds were also discovered. The young male was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling. While being taken away the sixteen year old allegedly asked how much time he was going to get.
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Yesterday,Attorney Sam’s Take discussed a fatal drunk driving incident from over the Labor Day Weekend. Today we deal with another automobile – related story. This time, it was what was found inside the car which is of import.

Somerville police say that they recovered eight handguns, six of which were fully loaded, during a traffic stop on Medford Street during the weekend.

The incident took place at around 4:00pm on Sunday. Somerville police pulled over a 2004 BMW for speeding. During the traffic stop, the driver, 37-year-old Sherwood Gustave of Mattapan, found himself in a bit more trouble. He was arrested for operating after his license was suspended.

But the trouble was not to end there.

Officers say that they spotted an empty gun holster in the rear seat of the vehicle. This triggered a more in-depth search of the car, officers said, which revealed eight pistols, six of which were loaded. Two of the firearms have been found to have been stolen according to law enforcement.

Mr. Gustave was not alone in the vehicle. There were two passengers in the car as well. They were arrested as well and are identified as Anthony Paulino, 18, of Somerville, and Gunter Vital, 47, of Cambridge.
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