Three New Bedford Gun Arrests Reported in Separate Police Investigations

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — New Bedford Police report three recent arrests in separate investigations involving the possession of illegal firearms.

Illegal Firearm Discovered During Park Lot Encounter

On November 12 just after 9 p.m., Officers Jonathan Andrews and Shawn Raposo of the Crime Reduction Unit were patrolling the North End and saw a vehicle parked inside the Dias Field lot on Nauset Street. “All recreational parks in the city are closed from dusk to dawn, making the occupants subject to trespassing violations,” police said.

According to police, the officers approached and saw a large amount of smoke coming from inside the vehicle, and allegedly found two rolled marijuana joints in the center console. They said one passenger was found with a knife longer than 2.5 inches, and another, identified as Quinn Raposo, 19, of New Bedford, was carrying a concealed firearm in his waistband. The gun had one 9mm round in the chamber and a large-capacity feeding device loaded with additional rounds. Police said there was also an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

The driver received citations for the alcohol and the marijuana, while Raposo was arrested and charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license, unlawful possession of a high-capacity feeding device, and possession of ammunition without an FID card.

Get our free mobile app

Foot Chase Leads to Recovery of Loaded .380 Firearm

The next day, on November 13, Detective Stephanie Connolly received information that a man identified as Victor Monteiro, 21, of New Bedford, was in possession of a firearm without a license to carry.

Det. Connolly was conducting surveillance in the South End when she saw Monteiro walking on South Second Street. He refused to stop for detectives and led them on a brief foot chase before being apprehended. According to police, he told them he had discarded his gun while running. Detectives recovered the weapon, which had one .380 round in the chamber and four additional rounds in the magazine.

Monteiro was arrested and charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and a firearm violation with two prior violent/drug offenses.

Police said he has prior convictions from November 2023, including carrying a firearm without a license and two counts of assault and battery with a firearm.

Traffic Stop Uncovers Gun With No Serial Number

On November 20, Detectives Jacob Rebello and Matthew Couture were patrolling the area of County and Linden Streets when they observed a vehicle with a failed inspection sticker and a defective passenger-side license plate light.

Police said that after the detectives activated their blue lights, they saw the driver and passenger “moving abruptly inside the vehicle.” The passenger, Dwaine Muhammad, 19, of New Bedford, was asked to step out of the vehicle and pat-frisked. Police said a black crossbody bag was found on the floor of the passenger side of the vehicle with a Geisler 9mm inside loaded with three rounds and with no serial number.

Muhammad was arrested and charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without an FID card. The driver was issued citations for motor vehicle violations.