New Bedford Juvenile Arrested for Carrying Loaded Gun

NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford Police narcotics unit took a loaded .40 caliber Glock 27 firearm with five rounds of ammunition in the magazine off the street Tuesday, and arrested two people after a brief vehicle chase and subsequent foot pursuit into a wooded area in the 400-block of Potter Street.

While patrolling, detectives in the Narcotics Unit approached a vehicle that was occupied in the area of Carriage Drive and Bryant Lane. As detectives approached the vehicle, the occupants started to close their windows and maneuver within the vehicle. The actions of the occupants caused detectives to suspect they were attempting to conceal a potential weapon.

The vehicle would then flee and a brief vehicle pursuit ensued, which would end in the 400-block of Potter Street, where one of the occupants would flee on foot in a wooded area. A foot pursuit ensued and the suspect would subsequently surrender. A loaded .40 caliber firearm was located in the area where the suspect had been running.

With assistance from patrol units, police arrested the suspect, a juvenile, on charges of carrying a loaded firearm and on a warrant.

The driver of the vehicle, Kevin A. Zelaya-Ayala, 19, of Sawyer Street, New Bedford, was charged with two counts of failure to stop for police and driving with an obstructed window.

The arrests were made at 7:32 p.m. Tuesday.

New Bedford Police Department