BOSTON, Sept. 30, 20013—A Mattapan man was arraigned today on firearm and related charges after he allegedly dropped a handgun in front of a police officer responding to a call for a stabbing, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ (D.O.B. 6/12/84) was charged in Roxbury District Court with unlawful possession of a firearm as a second or subsequent offense, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm. Rodriguez is additionally charged as a Level I armed career criminal; he was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance in 2003 and has a prior gun conviction from 2005.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Costello requested that bail be set in the amount of $75,000.  Judge Pamela Dashiell set $15,000 bail and ordered that Rodriguez wear a GPS monitor, abide by a curfew, and stay away from the area where the incident occurred.

According to prosecutors, Boston Police officers traveling toward Grove Hall shortly before 4:30 Sunday morning for a report of a stabbing noticed Rodriguez as he crossed Warren Street in the area of the Warren Gardens housing development.

Upon noticing their unmarked police cruiser, Rodriguez allegedly clutched the front of his waist, bent over, and took off toward the development over a three-foot high chain fence, prosecutors said.  Based on their training of the characteristics of armed gunmen and their knowledge of illegal gun activity in the area, officers believed that Rodriguez was carrying an unregistered firearm, prosecutors said.

Officers exited their cruiser and announced their presence.  Rodriguez, whose back was to the officers, was ordered to show his hands.  When he did so, prosecutors said, the officers heard a thud and noted a silver Smith and Wesson .38 Special on the ground, alongside a small box containing 14 unspent rounds.

Police found that the firearm was warm to the touch and was fully loaded with six live rounds of ammunition identical to the 14 unfired rounds in the ammunition box, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez allegedly made statements to police that he did not have a license to carry the firearm and that he had it “for protection,” prosecutors said.

Rodriguez is represented by Sarah Blair.  He will return to court on Oct. 23.

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