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Around 4:30AM on Monday, June 24, 2024, Trooper Tim Moriarty of the SP-South Boston Barracks was observing traffic on Gallivan Boulevard in Dorchester. Trooper Moriarty watched a white Nissan Altima pass his cruiser toward Neponset Circle. Trooper Moriarty ran the vehicle’s license plate which revealed the vehicle had no inspection sticker and the registered owner to have an active warrant for his arrest.
Trooper Moriarty conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the operator, RONIEL STEELE, 31, of Dorchester. Trooper Moriarty confirmed STEELE was the owner of the vehicle and confirmed the warrant for STEELE’s arrest through Troop H Communications dispatchers. Trooper Moriarty placed STEELE under arrest and secured him in handcuffs.
Through conversation with STEELE, Trooper Moriarty developed probable cause to conduct a search of the Altima believing there was a firearm in the vehicle. Backed up by Troopers Joshua Harvey and Nivaldo Silva, Trooper Moriarty found a Springfield Hellcat 9MM handgun with a round in the chamber, two loaded magazines, and twenty 9MM rounds inside the Altima. STEELE’s license to carry a firearm was previously suspended.
Additionally, during an inventory of the vehicle in preparation for a tow, Trooper Moriarty located three bags of marijuana totaling 1.9 ounces, and 15 small baggies of fentanyl totaling 16 grams.
RONIEL STEELE was transported to the SP-South Boston Barracks to be booked, fingerprinted, and photographed.
In addition to the active arrest warrant for STEELE, he was arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of:
1. Possession Of A Firearm;
2. Possession Of A Firearm Without FID;
3. Possession Of Ammunition Without FID;
4. Possession Of A Firearm During A Felony;
5. Trafficking In Fentanyl;
6. Possession To Distribute Fentanyl;
7. Possession To Distribute Marijuana; and
8. No Inspection Sticker.