Chelsea Man Arraigned for Cocaine Trafficking, Guns Possession and Domestic Assault

            BOSTON, August 17, 2022—A Chelsea man was arraigned today after a call for a domestic disturbance in which a bullet was fired into a neighboring apartment resulted in the seizure of firearms and more than a kilo of cocaine, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said.

            DAVID ELLIS, 48, was arraigned today in Chelsea District Court on two counts each of unlawful possession of a firearm and improper storage of a firearm and one count each of trafficking in 200 or more grams of cocaine, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, assault and battery on a family or household member and unlawful possession of ammunition.  At the request of Assistant District Attorney Daniel Addady, Judge SallyAnn Janulevicus ordered Ellis held pending the outcome of a dangerousness hearing.

            Chelsea Police responded to a Winnisimment Street apartment yesterday (August 16) for a report of a domestic disturbance.  During the incident, a gun was fired from inside Ellis’ apartment; the bullet traveled through the wall of a neighboring apartment and lodged in an adjacent wall.  Fortunately, no one in the neighboring apartment was struck.

            Upon their arrival at the address, officers met with Ellis.  He was placed in handcuffs while officers conducted a sweep of the apartment.  Inside the apartment, officers met with a woman who had visible facial injuries.  She was transported by ambulance to an area hospital. 

Officers secured the apartment and obtained a warrant to search the residence.  That search led to the discovery of a kilo of cocaine and multiple smaller bags of cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, a Taurus 9 mm handgun loaded with five rounds of ammunition, a second magazine for the handgun containing eight rounds of ammunition, an Aero precision model rifle, 77 additional rounds of ammunition and a ballistic vest.

            “The presence of a gun during a domestic incident dramatically increases the chances of someone getting injured or killed.  It is incredibly fortunate that no one was struck by the bullet fired during this incident,” Hayden said. “We’re also thankful that the substantial quantity of drugs present in the apartment never made it onto the streets of Chelsea or any other community.”

            Ellis returns to court August 24 for a dangerousness hearing.

 James Borghesani, Chief of Communications

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal legal system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.