Suspects driving badly: Roxbury traffic stop ends with foot chase, gun arrest

Boston Police report that gang-unit officers on patrol last night wound up arresting two men, one on gun charges, after they tried to pull a car over for an equipment issue on Abbotsford Street in Roxbury.

Police report that around 10:45 p.m. the officers tried to stop the car:

As the vehicle slowed to a stop, the front seat passenger, later identified as Ildelfonso Velez, 18, of Attleboro, immediately exited the vehicle and took off running while clutching at the waist band area of his pants. The suspect vehicle then sped away. The officers stopped their cruiser and pursued the fleeing suspect on foot down a nearby alleyway. While in pursuit, the officers observed the suspect discard a .40 caliber Ruger P94 handgun onto the ground which was later recovered. Officers were able to catch up to the suspect on Crawford Street where he was placed in custody without further incident. A short time later, additional responding units located and stopped the suspect motor vehicle in the area of Homestead Street and Harold Street at which time the operator, Dimitri Thomas, 26, of Hyde Park, was placed in custody without incident.

Velez was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm, police say. Thomas was charged with failure to stop for a police officer.

Innocent, etc.