Four Boston police officers were injured as authorities pursued a wanted minivan through Dorchester and Roxbury Saturday evening. That chase ultimately led to authorities confiscating six firearms from the vehicle and the arrest of a 35-year-old man.
Officers on patrol first saw the blue Honda Odyssey parked outside 16 Glenway St. in Dorchester, and called for additional units because the suspect — later identified as Michael McKoy, of Boston — may have had a firearm, Boston police said in a statement.
Police watched the van turn onto Old Road and then north onto Columbia Road before stopping at the Geneva Avenue intersection, officials said. Officers, along with their back-up, turned on their lights and sirens and had McKoy pull over.
“As officers approached the vehicle, the operator suddenly reached down, placing the car into gear and stepped on the gas causing the car to lunge forward, striking several officers who were knocked to the ground and nearly pinned against the numerous vehicles in the area,” police said. “Four officers were injured and one Boston Police cruiser was damaged. The suspect made good on his escape, fleeing through the light and continuing through the intersection onto Columbia Road.”
Three officers were brought to a local hospital, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Officers watched McKoy speed away “while recklessly weaving in and out of traffic, nearly striking multiple vehicles in the process,” officials said. According to authorities, McKoy drove the wrong way on one-way streets, failed to stop at stop signs, and discarded items out of the van near 19 Monadnock St. and under the overpass at Dudley and Humphreys streets.
Police ended their pursuit as McKoy drove near Norfolk Avenue towards Hampden Street “due to the extremely blatant disregard for the safety of the public at the hands of the suspect,” officials said.
However, as officers, who broadcasted McKoy’s location, drove to the Norfolk Avenue and Hampden Street intersection, they saw McKoy had crashed the minivan into a light pole and watched him leave the vehicle through the passenger’s side door, authorities said.
“Officers exited their cruisers and immediately approached the suspect who was ordered to the ground,” police said. “The suspect ignored officers’ commands and fled on foot down Hampden Street towards Melnea Cass Boulevard. Following a lengthy foot pursuit, officers eventually apprehended the suspect at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.”
At the scene, police seized from the minivan six firearms, over 160 rounds of live ammunition, 22 plastic bags of crack cocaine, approximately 70.4 grams of heroin/fentanyl, $25,000 cash, and a large hunting knife, according to authorities.
McKoy is facing a slew of charges, including: “six counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Subsequent Offense, four counts of Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition Subsequent Offense, two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, four counts of Assault and Battery by means of a Dangerous Weapon, Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Personal Injury, Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Property Damage, Refusal to Submit for a Police Officer, Refusal to Stop for a Police Officer, Trafficking Class A Drugs, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B Drugs Subsequent Offense,” police said.
McKoy was also cited for three counts of failure to stop for a stop signal, speeding, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in personal injury, refusal to stop for a police officer, refusal to submit for a police officer, and wrong way on a one-way street, authorities said.
He was expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.
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