On Saturday, January 4, 2025, Officers from the District B-2 (Roxbury) Drug Control Unit (DCU) arrested 51-year-old Manestreem Forty-Four of Greensboro, Alabama, for firearm, drug, and other offenses during a drug interdiction operation in Dorchester’s Grove Hall neighborhood.
The arrest followed numerous complaints from local residents about drug activity and the illicit sale of unstamped cigarettes in the area, which negatively impacted the community and nearby businesses. Acting on intelligence provided by the community, B-2 DCU Officers conducted targeted patrols in an effort to address these concerns.
On Friday, January 3, 2025, at approximately 11:00 AM, Officers observed a suspect, later identified as Mr. Forty-Four, engaging in multiple hand-to-hand transactions from his vehicle in a business parking lot in Grove Hall. Further surveillance revealed individuals leaving these transactions with boxes of illegal Newport cigarettes.
The following day, Saturday, January 4, 2025, at about 12:00 PM, Officers resumed surveillance of Mr. Forty-Four and observed the same activities. After witnessing numerous transactions over two days, Officers approached the suspect and identified themselves. Upon being informed of his detention, Mr. Forty-Four resisted by pushing an Officer and attempting to flee in his vehicle. He was quickly secured without further incident.
A subsequent search of Mr. Forty-Four’s vehicle revealed an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency, multiple packages of unstamped cigarettes, several bags of marijuana, and a tactical satchel containing a tan and silver 9mm SCCY Industries CPX-2 firearm with 11 rounds of ammunition in its magazine.
Mr. Forty-Four was taken into custody and is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on the following charges:
- Possession of Drugs with Intent to Distribute (Class D)
- Possession of Unstamped Cigarettes
- Assault and Battery on a Police Officer
- Resisting Arrest
- Unlawful Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm
- Unlawful Possession of a Large-Capacity Feeding Device
- Unlawful Possession of Ammunition
- Uninsured Motor Vehicle
- Unregistered Motor Vehicle
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
