New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
At approximately 7:30pm on August 19, Detectives Jason Gangi (New Bedford Police) and Keith DaCosta (Dartmouth Police) members of the Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force were on routine patrol in the area of Sawyer and Ashley Blvd. when they observed a 2000 grey Nissan Maxima traveling south on Ashley Boulevard with the operator “texting while driving”. The vehicle’s Rhode Island registration also turned up as being suspended.
The detectives attempted to stop the vehicle as it proceeded south on Route 18 but it refused to do so. It took the Purchase St. exit and continued westerly on Maxfield St. The vehicle then began circling the neighborhood, running stop signs, and refusing to stop. At one point, the operator tossed a loaded handgun out the window in the area of Hillman St. and Foster St.
The vehicle continued on before coming to a stop in the area of North St. and County St. and the operator taken into custody without incident.
The .40 caliber Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun was loaded with 5 rounds of ammunition. It was learned that it had been stolen in a housebreak in New Bedford back in 2011. The suspect does not possess a license to carry firearms.
Scheduled to be arraigned this morning in New Bedford district court on Firearm, Motor Vehicle, and stolen property charges; Kevin Rodrigues age 23 of New, Bedford.
