Fall River Police Gun Violence Task Force Sees Success

FALL RIVER — Following a surge in gun violence, the Fall River Police Department created a Gun Violence Task Force on July 15, consisting of members of the Fall River Police Department Uniform Division, Gang Unit, Vice and Intelligence Unit, Massachusetts State Police, the ATF, and the FBI.

Since its creation, the Task Force has made over 60 arrests, executed 10 search warrants, seized illegal narcotics, and suspected drug proceeds over $19,000. It also seized three firearms off the street.

On Wednesday, July 15 at approximately 10:15 p.m., detectives from the Vice and Intelligence Unit were conducting surveillance in the area of Rodman Street and Fourth Street and observed the female enter a suspicious auto. Detectives followed the suspicious vehicle to the rear lot of a Hartwell Street apartment complex. At this point, detectives approached the vehicle to further investigate. Based on the investigation, the female Jenna Disanti, 32, and the vehicle operator, Nazier Torres, 23, were placed under arrest. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a loaded six-shot revolver for which Torres did not have a license to carry. Torres was additionally charged with carrying a non-large capacity firearm without a license and carrying a loaded firearm without a license.

On Thursday, July 30, 2020, Fall River Police Uniform Officers Nicholas Mello and John Aguiar were dispatched to 155 County Street based on information about gang activity involving a firearm. Officers arrived and located five males across the street from the above address. The group quickly dispersed with four walking from the area, while one male ran, cutting through back yards of residences in the area. A search of the area where the male had run yielded a loaded Jennings .380 firearm that had an additional eight rounds of ammunition and a black hat. It appeared to police that both items had been discarded.

Officers reviewed surveillance footage from the area during the incident and say they were able to see the handle of the firearm protruding from the suspect’s pants as he ran from the scene. The suspect has been identified as a 16-year-old juvenile and an arrest warrant has been requested for several firearm offenses.

On Thursday, July 30, 2020, the Fall River Police Department Gun Violence Task Force executed a search warrant at 555 Whipple Street, Apartment 1. Detectives approached the apartment door, knocked, and identified themselves as police officers. The door was opened by an occupant of the apartment. The officers announced that they had a search warrant and entered the apartment.

Once inside the apartment, they located the subject of the warrant, 19-year-old Michael Giasson. A search of the apartment was conducted and the following items were located in Giasson’s bedroom: a black 9 mm Ruger firearm, a laser sight gun attachment for the firearm, 24 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, $2,690 in U.S. currency, and 25 small bags of marijuana that were packaged for street sale. Detective Greg Homen was the investigating detective. Giasson is charged with possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition with an FID card, and possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance.

“As an organization, we will not tolerate gun violence in our community,” said Police Chief Jeffrey Cardoza. “We will continue to use every available resource at our disposal to discover illegal firearms and those that possess them.”

— Fall River Police