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Mattapan man arrested with loaded stolen handgun after traffic stop, Boston police say

Boston police said officers found a loaded 9mm pistol reported stolen in Atlanta in a backpack inside the car of a 22-year-old Mattapan man pulled over early Monday.

BOSTON — A 22-year-old Mattapan man was arrested on gun charges early Monday after Boston police said they found a loaded handgun reported stolen in Atlanta inside his car during a traffic stop.

Omari Ridley, of Mattapan, is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court, the Boston Police Department said. He faces charges of carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possessing ammunition without a firearms identification card, possessing a large-capacity firearm and receiving stolen property.

According to police, officers patrolling near Mallard Avenue and New England Avenue at about 3:18 a.m. saw a silver sedan roll through a stop sign and turn without signaling. They pulled the car over at Southern Avenue and Ferndale Street.

As officers walked up, police said, they saw Ridley, who was driving, reaching into a red backpack behind the front passenger seat. He did not hand over a driver's license or the car's registration when asked, and officers later saw him cover the backpack with a piece of black clothing, police said.

Officers had Ridley get out of the car and frisked him. Police said the backpack felt noticeably heavy when officers picked it up, and they then saw the handle of a gun wrapped in rubber bands. Police said Ridley did not have a license to carry.

Detectives identified the weapon as a Taurus G3c 9mm pistol loaded with 11 rounds and fitted with a laser and light attachment, police said. A records check showed it had been reported stolen in Atlanta.

The charges are allegations, and Ridley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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