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Man accused of wielding military-style rifle held on $500,000 cash bail

Print Posted by John Ellement January 10, 2011 01:56 PM

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Pat Greenhouse / Globe Staff

With their lawyers standing by, four men pleaded not guilty in Dorchester Municipal Court today to numerous illegal gun charges. The man with his face partially covered, center, is Marvin Veiga, who was shot after he allegedly pointed a military-style assault rifle at Boston police.

By Brian R. Ballou and John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

With his face partially covered by a hospital jumper he wore to court, a Dorchester man today pleaded not guilty to numerous firearm charges, including illegal possession of a machine gun.

Boston police

The military-style assault rifle

Marvin Veiga, 21, appeared in Dorchester Municipal Court still wearing the hospital clothing he was given when he was treated for a leg wound at Boston Medical Center. Veiga was shot by a Boston police officer as he allegedly pointed a fully loaded military-style assault rifle at police Friday night as officers chased him on foot.

Veiga and three other men who were riding in a Chrysler PT Cruiser were being pursued by police when the vehicle crashed on Freeport Street in Dorchester, police said. A loaded .40-caliber handgun, numerous rounds of ammunition, and four face masks were also found in the car, according to police.

"Two firearms, both high-capacity weapons,were recovered,’’ Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Joseph Janezic III, deputy chief of the gang unit, said in court. He referred to the military-style assault rifle and said it had “the potential to inflict catastrophic damage.’’

The driver has been identified as Osvaldir Mendes, 23, of Dorchester. Mendes, Veiga, and the other two men, identified as Daronde Bethea, 18, of Milton, and Takari Elliott, 18, of Dorchester were apprehended, authorities said.

All four pleaded not guilty during their appearances in the Dorchester courthouse. Bail for the four ranged from $500,000 cash for Veiga to $100,000 cash for Bethea, whose attorney contended his client was generally cooperative with police.

Veiga is the brother of Manuel “Junior’’ DaVeiga, 19, who authorities say shot himself in the head April 3 on a Dorchester street after exchanging gunfire with officers who were chasing him. That shooting remains under investigation by Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office.

The Globe reported today that, according to police, witness accounts, autopsy findings, and physical evidence indicate Manuel DaVeiga shot himself in the head.

Emmett Folgert, executive director of the Dorchester Youth Collaborative, told the Globe Sunday that most of his staffers, “old and young,’’ after speaking with police personnel, now believe DaVeiga did in fact kill himself.

He also praised police for recovering the weapons on Saturday night.

“It’s always great when guns like this are taken off the streets,’’ he said. “That’s a wonderful thing.’’

Police released photographs of the two firearms recovered, along with images of the ammunition allegedly found in the vehicle.