Domestic disturbance call leads to arrest, high-capacity firearm seizure

BOSTON, October 4, 2022 — Officers responding to a domestic disturbance call Monday led to the arrest of a Dorchester man and the seizure of a 9mm firearm fitted with a laser sight and a high-capacity magazine, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

JOSEPH DOZIER, 26, was charged in Dorchester BMC today with assault and battery on a family or household member, assault with a dangerous weapon, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, possession of a high-capacity firearm, and threats. Judge Thomas Kaplanes ordered Dozier held in lieu of $15,000 bail and to stay away from the victim and the incident location.

Assistant District Attorney Meghan Dougherty said that at 11:48 a.m. on Monday Boston police responded to a Greenwood Street residence for a domestic disturbance call.  The victim told police Dozier had struck her and had threatened to kill her while motioning to his waist, where he had a firearm.

Officers stopped Dozier’s vehicle a short time later and placed him under arrest.  In the basement of the residence officers found a black-and-white polymer 9mm handgun affixed with a laser site. The gun had one round in the chamber and 15 rounds in the magazine.

Dozier will return to court November 3 for a pre-trial conference.  

“Domestic violence calls a stressful enough for the victims and the responders, but when a gun has any involvement the situation becomes even more dangerous.  I’m grateful no one was hurt in this incident and that a deadly, high-capacity weapon was taken off the streets,” Hayden said.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications