ONE LESS GUN: BPD Officers Disarm Gun-Toting Felon during Violent Daytime Struggle Downtown: At about 9:20AM, on Friday, January 27, 2017, officers from District A-1 (Downtown) were on directed patrol in and around the St. Francis House located at 39 Boylston Street as a result of several community complaints relative to illegal activity in the area. While on patrol, officers observed two individuals engaged in a transaction involving clothing that appeared to have been shoplifted. Specifically, officers observed the exchange of money for clothing that appeared to still have shopping tags attached and affixed to the clothing items. In light of their observations, officers approached the individuals to better understand the nature of their interaction. While talking to both individuals, officers noted that one of the individuals appeared to be nervous and continued to keep his hands inside his pockets. Acting in the best interest of officer safety while also fearing the presence of a weapon, officers asked the individual to remove his hands from his pockets. The suspect initially complied with the officer’s request but, a short time later, placed his hands back into his pockets. Moreover, when asked to provide his name, age and home address, the suspect appeared to be purposefully evasive and unclear. At this point, officers informed the suspect that they were going to handcuff him until they could ascertain his true identity and better understand his refusal to answer simple questions relative to one’s name, date of birth and home address. However, when officers asked the suspect to place his hands behind his back, the suspect quickly became violent and began pushing and punching the officers. Despite repeated commands instructing the suspect to surrender his hands to the officers, the suspect continued to fight. During the struggle, officers struggled to contain the suspect as he reached for an unknown object in his waist area. Fortunately, officers were able to restrain the suspect and confiscate a firearm from his waist area before the suspect could harm himself or any of the officers. Additionally, officers recovered 23 small plastic bags of what appeared to be crack cocaine and 9 larger plastic bags of what appeared to be heroin found on the suspect’s person.

Officers arrested Jamal Chin-Clarke, 35, of Boston and charged him with the Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Possession of Loaded Firearm on a Public Way, Armed Career Criminal, Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B Drugs (Cocaine), Possession with Intent to Distribute Class A Drugs (Heroin), Assault & Battery on Police Officer and Resisting Arrest.

Said Commissioner William Evans: “I want to commend my officers for their dedication to keeping our city safe while – once again - bravely confronting and apprehending an armed felon who cared little for the safety of not only the arresting officers but anybody who may have been in the area at the time of the arrest. Without a doubt, the suspect in this case is a dangerous man and our city is most certainly a safer place with him behind bars."