Boston police arrest 14 in warrant sweep

By Travis Andersen, Globe Staff

Boston police today arrested 14 suspected drug dealers in a portion of Dorchester recently plagued by violent crime, authorities said.

Police said in a statement that the suspects were apprehended during a warrant sweep in the area of Bowdoin Street, Geneva Avenue, and Olney Street, where multiple shootings have occurred since the summer.

Four suspects were arrested earlier this week as part of the same warrant sweep, a police spokesman said.

Police said most of the suspects, who range in age from 17 to 42, have long criminal histories, including prior gun offenses. They now have cases pending on drug charges in state and federal courts, according to authorities.

Eleven of the suspects were arraigned today in Suffolk Superior Court today and ordered to stay away from the area if they post bail, according to the office of District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.

“This action is a message to any individuals engaging in violent activity in our communities, specifically the area of Bowdoin Street and Geneva Ave.,” Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said in the statement. “We will be relentless in our efforts to hold violent perpetrators accountable. We are steadfast in our commitment to preserving quality of life for hard-working, law-abiding community members.”

Mayor Thomas M. Menino also praised the arrests in the statement.

“This warrant sweep is an example of the Boston Police Department’s unrelenting focus and should serve as a message to those who continue to terrorize our community,” Menino said. “The BPD will not allow the senseless acts of a few individuals to create fear in the lives of Boston residents and families.”