On Monday, June 3, 2025, at approximately 7:00 PM, members of the Youth Violence Strike Force, in coordination with the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, conducted a motor vehicle stop in the area of Hancock Street and Columbia Road in Dorchester. The stop resulted in the on-site arrest of 27-year-old Jonathan Pharel of Revere, MA, who now faces multiple firearm-related charges.
Officers on patrol when they observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Columbia Road. The vehicle had heavily tinted windows and failed to stop at a solid red light at the intersection of Columbia Road and Glendale Street. Officers activated their emergency lights and sirens to initiate a stop, at which point the vehicle slowly came to a stop near 531 Hancock Street. Officers approached the vehicle and the driver was identified as Jonathan Pharel.
During the interaction, officers observed behavior that raised safety concerns and issued an exit order. While attempting to remove the operator, he resisted. Officers were eventually able to safely remove and detain him.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a black Glock 19 handgun with a high-capacity magazine containing fourteen rounds of 9mm ammunition, including one round in the chamber. The firearm was located inside a holster beneath the center console.
As a result of the stop and recovery, Jonathan Pharel was arrested and is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court for the following charges:
- Unlawful possession of a firearm
- Carrying a loaded firearm without a license
- Possession of a large-capacity feeding device
- Unlawful possession of ammunition without an FID card
- Operating an uninsured motor vehicle
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle
- Negligent operation of a motor vehicle
- Failure to stop or yield
- Speeding
- Resisting arrest