Two Men Arrested in Salem on Weapons Charges, Accused of Making 'Repeated References' to Recent Police Shootings

UPDATED 4:58 p.m.: SALEM, MA — Two men, one of whom was accused of repeatedly making references to recent police shootings, were arrested in Salem Tuesday on multiple weapons charges.

Kelvin Mendoza, 26, of Fitchburg and Emanuel Rodriguez-Shonyo, 25, of Salem were arraigned in court on a variety of weapons charges following a traffic stop in Salem. The Essex County District Attorney's office stated that Mendoza allegedly made repeated references to recent police shootings. Mendoza is on active duty with the Army Reserves.

Earlier reports, including from Patch, said the men were being charged with plotting to kill police. Those have since been corrected to the DA's office alleging the intimidation of police officers.

Assistant District Attorney Erin Bellavia told the Salem District Court Tuesday that officers stopped two men driving the wrong direction down a one-way street after police had observed behavior consistent with drug dealing. According to Bellavia's testimony cited in the District Attorney's announcement, Mendoza was allegedly very hostile and antagonistic toward police and referenced other police shootings.

Editor's Note: This story was derived from information provided by the Essex County District Attorney's Office. It does not indicate a conviction.

The announcement further indicated that Mendoza reached into his car, despite orders not to, and appeared to be reaching under the front seat. Police later found a loaded .40 handgun under the driver's seat and a loaded large capacity rifle in a bag between the two front seats. Neither Mendoza nor Rodriquez-Shonyo had a license to carry the weapons.

While transporting Rodriguez-Shonyo back to the police station, it was discovered that he had an app on his phone that allowed him to listen in on the Salem Police radio scanner app, and that the app was open and believed to be open prior to the traffic stop, the DA's office said.

Both were charged with carrying a loaded large capacity firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card (2 counts), possession of Class C drugs, improper storage of a large capacity firearm and improper storage of a firearm. Mendoza was also charged with the improper operation of a motor vehicle.

Both were ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Aug. 10