East Boston man charged with assaulting officers and multiple firearm offenses

BOSTON, May 31, 2023 – A man caught drinking in public was charged Tuesday in Central BMC for multiple firearm offenses and assaulting two Boston police officers during a violent struggle on Boston Common last week, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.   

ISAIAS PLAZA, 23, of East Boston is charged with carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm in commission of a felony, possession of ammunition without an FID card, resisting arrest, possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance, drinking of alcoholic beverages in public, and two counts of assault and battery on a police officer.

Judge Eleanor Sinnott ordered Plaza held on $20,000 bail with GPS monitoring and also ordered him to stay away from Boston Common. Plaza will return to court on June 15 for a probable cause hearing.

At about 7:05 p.m. on Friday, officers from the Boston Police Bike Squad patrolling Boston Common observed a male, later identified as Plaza, walking on Winter Street toward Tremont Street with a large clear bottle containing a brown liquid believed to be an alcoholic beverage. As Plaza noticed one of the officers, he made an effort to conceal the bottle by pressing it against his body. Plaza then tossed the glass bottle into the trash as he ignored commands to stop. When the officer asked for Plaza’s ID, he immediately said he did not have one and provided a false name. Plaza then tried to run away but the officer was able to grab hold of his hooded sweatshirt. Plaza began to fight and push the officer while another officer stepped in. During the struggle, a third officer observed a silver firearm on the ground. Officers quickly recovered the firearm and removed the magazine containing six rounds. They also discovered a clear plastic bag with a substance believed to be crack cocaine in Plaza’s pocket.

Plaza has two outstanding warrants, one out of Central BMC and one out of Chelsea District Court.

“Boston Common is a bustling area with many residents, workers and tourists, especially during a holiday weekend. We have seen a concerning uptick in gun violence with blatant disregard for public safety, and getting any illegal firearm off the street is a step in the right direction. I commend these officers for the quick actions that led to this outcome,” Hayden said.

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 justice 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.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communcations