At approximately 6:35 PM on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, officers assigned to District B-3 (Mattapan) conducted a traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of Hericles De Pina and the recovery of a loaded firearm in the area of 10 Hosmer Street in Mattapan.
While on patrol in the area of Blue Hill Avenue and Clarkwood Street, officers’ attention was drawn to a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Specifically, officers observed the operator using his cell phone and not paying attention to the road. Officers activated their emergency equipment and initiated a traffic stop in the area of 10 Hosmer Street.
After notifying the operator for the reason in which he was stopped, officers conducted a query of both the operator and the vehicle. Through the query, officers discovered the operator had an active warrant issued out of Salem, New Hampshire.
Officers returned to the vehicle to inform the operator of the warrant. Upon notifying the operator of the warrant, officers issued an exit order to which the operator refused. The operator then shifted the vehicle into drive and attempted to flee from officers. A struggle ensued in which officers attempted to stop the suspect, but he continued to accelerate, recklessly swerving, nearly striking officers. The suspect drove onto the sidewalk where he was unable to proceed ahead. Met with this obstacle, the suspect shifted the vehicle into reverse and again accelerated toward officers, coming to an abrupt stop as the vehicle collided with the officers’ department motor vehicle. Officers removed the suspect from the vehicle and attempted to place him into custody, but the suspect resisted by pinning his right hand to his waistband in an effort to conceal an apparent object inside of his waistband. Officers were eventually able to gain control of the suspect and subsequently recovered a firearm inside of the suspect’s waistband. The suspect was taken into custody.
The firearm was determined to be a 9 mm Polymer 80 handgun with three rounds of live ammunition in the magazine.
Officers arrested Hericles De Pina, 26-years-old, of Taunton. De Pina is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License, Carrying a Firearm without a License, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card, Assault by means of a Dangerous Weapon, Failure to Stop for Police, and Fugitive from Justice. De Pina was also issued a Massachusetts uniform citation for violations of the auto laws.