Man arrested for possessing firearm after backing into police-only parking lot

Posted 1/4/23

A Massachusetts man was arrested last week after he backed into the restricted parking lot for Bristol police vehicles while in possession of a firearm.

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Man arrested for possessing firearm after backing into police-only parking lot

Posted

A Massachusetts man was arrested for possessing a firearm without a license to do so in Rhode Island after he errantly backed his vehicle into the parking lot that is restricted for police vehicles on the grounds of the Bristol Police Department’s headquarters on Metacom Avenue.

According to the arrest report, the event occurred on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at about 9:30 p.m. The driver of the vehicle (identified as Jose Antunes-Rosa of Massachusetts) stopped while going south on Metacom Avenue before backing into the restricted lot of the police department, at which time the Bristol officer engaged a traffic stop.

The driver said that he was delivering a DoorDash order and got lost, prompting him to try and back up and turn around without realizing he was entering the police parking lot. However, he “appeared extremely nervous as he tightly gripped the steering wheel to the point that his knuckles were beginning to change color,” per the report. The officer observed an empty pistol holster in a cupholder and asked him if there were weapons in the car, to which he responded there was not, and that he had left the gun at home in Massachusetts before entering Rhode Island to deliver the food.

Upon engaging a search of Antunes-Rosa’s person, the officer quickly felt an object concealed under his clothing, which was revealed to be a 9mm pistol with 10 rounds in the magazine, but with no round chambered. At this time Antunes-Rosa was placed in handcuffs and arrested. He was charged with a felony count of carrying a prohibited weapon without a license or permit and a court summons for improper backing up, and was released on $1,000 surety early the following morning.

During the search of his car, a fast food bag in Antunes-Rosa’s car was found to contain only empty containers, and officers could not confirm that he actually worked for DoorDash.

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