Man on bail on drug and gun charges arrested on new drug and gun charges after speeding down Blue Hill Avenue while drunk, police say

Boston Police report officers who stopped a man for speeding and swerving down Blue Hill Avenue early this morning arrested him not just for that, but for the automatic rifle loaded with 30 bullets, two loaded handguns, switchblade and cocaine they found on him or in his car.

At the time of his arrest, Jeffrey Salvant, 38, of Mattapan, was free on personal recognizance on gun and drug charges stemming from a 2022 arrest in Chinatown.

Police say that shortly before 12:30 this morning, Salvant caught the attention of officers in a cruiser at Blue Hill Avenue and American Legion Highway when he sped past them. Theyturned on their blue lights and siren and tried to get him to stop, but he didn't until they got to Blue Hill Avenue and Mattapan Street, about 1 1/2 miles away.

Officers approached the vehicle and observed the operator, later identified as Jeffrey Salvant, with his eyes wide open and his hands up in the air. Officers informed Salavant the reason for the traffic stop and during their interaction, Officers detected a strong smell of alcohol emanating from the inside of the vehicle. Officers also observed two female passengers within the vehicle and opened alcoholic beverage containers.

As Officers continued their interaction with Salvant, they observed him display characteristics of a person under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, as well as characteristics of a person armed with a firearm or weapon. Officers continued their investigation of Salvant and his vehicle and determined that a pat-frisk of his person and vehicle was necessary.

During their frisk, Officers removed the knife from Salvant’s pants that was determined to be an illegal spring-loaded double-edged switchblade. Officers continued their frisk and recovered two (2) loaded firearms inside Salvant’s jacket. Officers made notifications that a firearm was present and all occupants of the vehicle were placed into handcuffs for the safety of all present. After Salvant was placed in custody, Officers recovered a plastic bag of suspected Cocaine inside his right pant pocket.

Officers conducted a search of the passenger compartment of the vehicle and while searching the back left side of the vehicle, they observed a black range bag, specifically manufactured for the purpose of carrying a rifle. Officers unzipped the bag and observed what they knew to be the upper receiver to an AR style firearm.

Upon further inspection this firearm was determined to be a “privately made firearm” which was a silver and black AR style firearm with a chrome lower receiver and a buffer-tube extension, without a stock. It also had a vertical fore-grip and optic affixed to the hand guard. The barrel length was observed to be under sixteen inches, and the firearm had a black magazine inserted which was wrapped in black electrical tape. The pistol grip was also wrapped in black electrical tape. The firearm had zero rounds in the chamber and the inserted magazine was loaded with thirty rounds of .300 black out ammunition.

Police add one of the handguns was loaded with nine bullets, the other with six.

Salvant was charged with three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, three counts of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm with one prior violent or drug crime, carrying a dangerous weapon (switchblade) and possession of a class B drug. He was also issued a ticket for speeding, failing to stop for a red light, driving with an open container of alcohol and OUI, police say.

Salvant was already awaiting trial on charges of unlawful gun and ammunition possession and possession of a class-B drug stemming from a 2022 arrest in Chinatown, where police say they caught him and an out-of-town friend trying to steal scooters - although the scooter charge was later dismissed.

Court records show a trial date has yet to be set in that case, in which he had been free on personal recognizance. A Boston Municipal Court judge this month set a hearing on Jan. 24 on a motion by Salvant's attorney to suppress evidence in the case.

At his arraignment today on the Blue Hill Avenue charges in Dorchester Municipal Court, Judge Jonathan Tynes revoked Salvant's bail from his 2022 case and set a hearing to review his status for Dec. 16.

Innocent, etc.