Police: Scooter driver, gun-packing passenger try to speed away from officers, fail

Boston Police report arresting two men on a scooter early Saturday after a brief chase that ended when the scooter driver spun out.

Police say officers on routine patrol around 3:40 a.m. were stopped at a red light at Humboldt Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard when they noticed a scooter pulling up, driven by one guy without a helmet with an equally helmetless passenger - which is illegal in Massachusetts:

While talking to the individuals and asking them to explain why they weren’t wearing helmets, officers noted that the rear passenger was moving in such a way as if to suggest he was holding something, possibly a firearm, tight to his waist area. Fearing the presence of a weapon, the officers asked the passenger to remove his arms from his waist. When the suspect complied, officers observed the butt end of a firearm tucked into the suspect’s waist area. Upon seeing the firearm, officers instructed the operator to pull to the side of the road. However, instead of pulling over, the operator took off.

Police say the driver lost control of the scooter at Dudley and East Cottage streets.

Upon losing control of the scooter, one suspect took off running while the other suspect regained control of the scooter and attempted to flee the area. In short time, both suspects were apprehended. A pat frisk of both suspects for the presence of a firearm proved unsuccessful. However, a search of the area with help from a BPD Canine Unit enabled officers to locate the firearm in a front yard in the area of 25 Maywood Street.

Shaquan Pinckney, 21, of Dorchester, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm with a defaced/obliterated serial number and carrying a firearm on a public way.

Claudio Lopes, 19, of Dorchester, was charged with failure to stop for a police officer.

Innocent, etc.