A 20-year-old man accused of carrying a rifle in a duffle bag while walking through Mattapan was arrested Sunday afternoon after a “violent struggle,” Boston Police said.
The man, Kesner Forestdale, of Dorchester, is facing a litany of charges, including carrying a loaded rifle on a public way and assault and battery on a police officer, police said in a statement.
Boston police say there were several active firearm investigations involving Forestdale, who owned several guns. Officers saw Forestdale carrying a black duffel bag in the area of Harvard and Standish streets in Mattapan Sunday afternoon.
Police surveilled Forestdale and later stopped him near Harvard and Bernard streets. Officers attempted to pat frisk the duffle bag, at which point Forestdale attempted to flee, police said.
Officers stopped Forestdale but a “violent struggle” ensued, according to the statement. Forestdale “violently pushed one of the officers in the face, and continued to resist,” police said.
Once Forestdale was handcuffed, officers recovered a black rifle, later identified as a Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22, with 22 rounds in the magazine from the duffel bag. While searching the bag, officers also found another gun, a Springfield Armory XD9 with sixteen 16 in the magazine, and multiple plastic bags of drugs, according to the statement.
Forestdale is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court in Dorchester on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded rifle on a public way, unlawful possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession with intent to distribute Class A drugs, possession with intent to distribute Class B drugs, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer. He also faces two counts each of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a large capacity feeding device.
