Chief Domenic J. DiMella
27 Hamilton Street
Saugus, MA 01906
For Immediate Release
Friday, Nov. 21, 2014
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-666-2012
Email: [email protected]
Saugus Police Seize Dozens of Illegal Firearms While Serving Section 12 Order
SAUGUS — Police Chief Domenic J. DiMella reports that the Saugus Police Department, while serving a Section 12 psychiatric hold order on a Felton Street resident with a long criminal record, discovered dozens of illegal firearms in his home.
As a result of a Saugus Police Department investigation, ERIC DALBO, AGE 49, OF FELTON STREET IN SAUGUS, has been charged with:
- Thirty-One (31) Counts Unlawful Possession of a Firearm as a Subsequent Offense
- One Count of Possession of a Deceptive Weapon Device
- One Count of Unlawful Possession of Ammunition
- One Count of Possession of Large Capacity Feeding Device/Weapon
- One Count of Possession of Sawed-Off Shotgun.
The charges carry additional penalties because DALBO is a repeat offender with multiple convictions including a 1996 conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and drug offenses dating back to 1988. Saugus Police are also investigating three police badges, including a United States Capital Police and Massachusetts State Police badge found with the firearms. Saugus police will be reaching out to those agencies to investigate.
DALBO was transported to an area hospital, under the psychiatric hold order, where he is currently under guard by Saugus Police Officers.
“This was a very dangerous situation for police officers, for the suspect, and for the public,” Chief DiMella said. “Thankfully, no one was injured, and I want to recognize our Saugus Police Officers for their professionalism and carefulness in the resolution of this case.”
Background
Massachusetts General Laws Title XVII, Chapter 123, Section 12 states that “Any physician … who, after examining a person, has reason to believe that failure to hospitalize such person would create a likelihood of serious harm by reason of mental illness may restrain or authorize the restraint of such person and apply for the hospitalization of such person for a 3-day period.”
Saugus Police Officers arrived at DALBO’S home at noon on Thursday to serve the Section 12 order and transport DALBO to a local hospital. Upon arrival, no one answered the door at his residence. Officers observed that DALBO’s vehicle was parked at the residence. Given the emergency nature of the Section 12 order and the fear that DALBO could harm himself or another person, officers made entry to the home by an unlocked rear door. DALBO appeared at the stop of a stairway and asked officers if he could change his clothes before he left the home. He invited officers upstairs, and, in plain view in his bedroom, observed a large quantity of unsecured firearms on his bed, next to the bed, and hanging on several walls of the room.
Police left the room and removed DALBO from the home, and left the building secured so that police could apply for a search warrant.
After receiving a warrant, officers found a total of 31 firearms in the bedroom, an office, and a upper floor storage room.
The search was conducted by the Saugus Police Criminal Investigations Division with assistance from members of The Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms Bureau and Malden Police Drug Unit.
DALBO will be arraigned at a later date.
###
