Photo Courtesy of Lynn Police Department
By Gayla Cawley
LYNN — Two men were arrested Tuesday on drug distribution and assault charges after allegedly pointing a gun at a teenager in a parking lot.
Lynn Police were flagged down by a 17-year-old Lynn man around midnight on Tuesday at the MBTA parking garage on Market Street. The teenager told police he ran out of fear for his life after being assaulted at Marian Gardens, Lynn Police Lt. Rick Donnelly said.
The victim was confronted the first time that evening at the YMCA parking lot, where the two suspects, Gary Freeman, 20, and Braulio Torres, 21, each of Lynn, allegedly pointed a gun at him and accused him of stealing the former’s cell phone, Donnelly said.
When police asked the victim why, he told them he had been playing basketball with them earlier at Marian Gardens. The victim told police the suspects searched him by making him strip down to his underwear. At that point, he made his way back with them to the Gardens to help search for the phone. There, he was jumped by the two suspects, along with other unidentified people, leading him to run. At the MBTA garage, the victim ran into police, Donnelly said.
The victim told police the suspects had backpacks and guns. Officers and the victim went back to Marian Gardens, where he was able to point out the two suspects, Donnelly said.
Freeman and Torres were arrested. Freeman was charged with marijuana distribution, assault with a dangerous weapon, firearm use in a felony and other firearm related offenses. Torres was charged with marijuana possession with intent to distribute, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, firearm use in a felony and other firearm related offenses.
The two backpacks Freeman and Torres were carrying contained more than 20 small bags of marijuana, containing approximately 76.3 grams of the drug, which has a street value of about $1,500. Also seized was $1,502 in cash, drug paraphernalia, a loaded 9mm handgun with a magazine and two cellphones, Donnelly said.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.