By Gintautas Dumcius
Reporter Correspondent

In the midst of a heated argument on a quiet Mattapan street, a man allegedly fired two rounds of ammunition at his brother on Labor Day.

Jermaine Blake, 22, of 40 Hiawatha Rd., was arraigned this week on two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Blake already had an open matter before the court for allegedly assaulting the mother of his child.

At 4:45 p.m. on Monday, officers responded to reports of shots fired at 50 Hiawatha Rd. Police approached a witness and his mother. The witness said that the suspect and his brother Ricardo were in a heated verbal argument that continued outside, where the suspect pulled out a revolver and fired a round at his brother, according to the police report.

The suspect then allegedly pointed the gun at the witness and told him to get back in the house before turning back and firing another round at his brother, almost hitting the witness's mother, according to the report.

The brother did not appear to be hurt in the fight.

Officers then picked up the suspect while on random patrol at Itasca and Almont St. He matched the description provided and looked as if he had been running with leaves covering his white t-shirt.

Officers brought the suspect back to the scene, where the witness became extremely agitated, pointing and yelling at the suspect to the point where officers had to restrain him. The witness then positively identified the suspect and he was brought to the Distsrict B-3 police station for booking, according to the report.

Charles Pappas, whom the court appointed as Blake's attorney, said Blake was "shocked" at the charges and adamantly denies them.

Pappas also noted that was no indications of spent casings on the scene and no firearm found. Pappas, acknowledging that the brothers do not have a good relationship, said they were fighting over food and Jermaine Blake sustained some injuries to his neck during the altercation.

Blake left after the fight and was speaking with his girlfriend before police picked him up, Pappas told the court.

Pappas noted that it was unclear what kind of relationship the one witness has with the defendant.

Blake pays child support and lives with his brother, Pappas said. Bail was set at $250,000. The next court date is September 28.

Boyfriend accused of assault and battery with unknown weapon

John Lee Miller, 54, of 35 Wales St., was arraigned this week for allegedly hitting his girlfriend of two years with an unknown object. Miller pled not guilty, and according to the police report, said the alleged victim was lying, and he didn't do anything.

Last Saturday, officers responded to a report of domestic violence at the Wales St. apartment at about 6:45 pm. The alleged victim was visibly shaken and holding her head, where officers observed a small cut on the back of her head, according to the police report. She was treated for the cut.

The alleged victim said that after hitting her, the suspect fled upstairs to another apartment to "smoke some crack," the report says.

Police went upstairs and arrested Miller, but were unable to find the object allegedly used to hit her.

The alleged victim said she did not want to pursue a restraining order against Miller and was just waiting for her uncle to arrive and bring her back home to Lynn.

Miller's court-appointed attorney noted that Miller was in court last month seeking a restraining order against the alleged victim.

Bail was set at $200 and the next court date is scheduled for Nov. 7.

Wales St. man charged with pushing police officer

Down the street at 17 Wales St., a man was charged with assault and battery of a police officer. Francisco Rivera-Morales, 25, of 20 Wales St., is alleged to have pushed a police officer in the stomach at 2:30 on Monday morning.

Rivera-Morales pled not guilty and had already paid a $1,000 bail. Prosecutors noted the suspect had two drug cases pending in other courts later in the month. The next court date in Dorchester District Court is set for November 5.

On Monday morning officers observed a male and female arguing at 17 Wales St., with the male attempting to flee on a motorized dirt bike as officers approached, according to the police report. The female yelled, "He stole my keys."

Officers stopped the suspect and asked for identification. According to the report, the suspect was uncooperative with officers and made a number of attempts to walk past the officers without acknowledging them. He would not state his name or produce identification when asked several times, according to the report.

One of the officers attempted to frisk the suspect, at which point the suspect allegedly pushed the officer in the stomach. He was then placed under arrest.

The female victim told police she and the suspect had been drinking at a club and gotten into an argument over food. She said the argument escalated when he wouldn't give her the keys to her car, according to the report. She said there was no physical violence and declined medical and shelter assistance.

She is alleged to have told the suspect, "See, that's what happens when you hit the police."

Gintautas Dumcius covers court proceedings and law enforcement for the Reporter. He can be reached at gin.dumcius@gmail.com.

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