Two men were in Salem District Court Tuesday afternoon after they were arrested on drugs and weapons charges Monday night.
The Essex Assistant District Attorney told the court that the men were stopped at around 3:30 a.m. after driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Police said they had been watching the vehicle after seeing behavior consistent with drug dealing.
Police said the driver, identified as 26-year-old Kelvin Mendoza of Fitchburg, was “hostile and antagonistic” and referenced police officers being “shot all over the country.” During the exchange, police said Mendoza reached into the car despite being ordered not to do so and appeared to reach under the driver’s seat. Police said they later found a loaded .40 handgun under the driver’s seat as well as a large capacity rifle in a bag between the two front seats.
Prosecutors said neither Mendoza nor his passenger, 25-year-old Emanuel Rodriguez-Shonyo of Salem, had a license to carry the weapons.
While transporting Rodriguez-Shonyo back to the police station, police said they discovered the man had an app on his phone that allowed him to listen to the Salem Police radio scanner. Police believe the app was open prior to the traffic stop.
The men were arrested on drug and weapons charges. Mendoza is also charged with improper operation of a vehicle. Both suspects are being held without bail. They will be in court Aug. 10 for a dangerousness hearing.
Mendoza allegedly told police that he had been discharged from the military and is bipolar. The district attorney’s office said he is active duty in the Army Reserves.
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