DORCHESTER — A tow-zone violation turned into a loaded rifle, 51 rounds of ammunition, and three arrests early Thursday morning after Boston police broke up a rowdy late-night mob at Magnolia and Intervale streets — a mob that police say berated officers, called them slurs, and challenged them to fights while cops worked the scene.

B-2 officers on directed patrol spotted a car parked in a posted tow zone around 2:05 a.m. Thursday, according to Boston Police. A registration query hit on an active felony warrant for the car's registered owner. A large group of people was congregating around the vehicle. Officers waited for backup before moving in.

Dejhaunna Howard-Armstrong — active felony warrant

Once additional units arrived, officers approached and attempted to arrest the vehicle's registered owner. She refused to identify herself and resisted as officers tried to walk her to the transport vehicle. She eventually complied and was placed in cuffs.

Dejhaunna Howard-Armstrong, 22, of Randolph, is charged on an active felony warrant out of South Boston District Court for Larceny over $1,200.

Tahjay Jones — the backpack on the bench

While one team was arresting Howard-Armstrong, other officers approached a separate group congregating inside a nearby park. When those officers walked up, several members of the group began peeling off. Officers' attention was drawn to a man sitting alone on a bench who then stood up, joined the group, and walked away — leaving behind an unattended backpack.

Officers picked up the bag. They felt the shape of a rifle inside.

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Tahjay Jones, 28, of Dorchester, was arrested and is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of:

Carrying a Loaded Firearm — Third Offense
Firearm Possession with a Prior Violent or Drug Crime
Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm
Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card
Trespassing

Inside the backpack: an Aero Precision 5.56 NATO rifle loaded with 31 rounds, and a second magazine loaded with 20 more rounds.

Under Massachusetts law, a third offense on the carrying-a-loaded-firearm charge carries a mandatory state-prison term. Combined with the prior-violent-or-drug-crime enhancement, Jones is looking at real time.

Jarell Brown — the mob turned on the cops

As officers processed the scene, the group refused to leave. In BPD's own words:

"While officers were attempting to process the scene, the group became increasingly agitated. The unruly group refused to disperse as they continued berating officers, calling them slurs, and challenging them to fights."

Jarell Brown, 27, of Dorchester, is charged with Disorderly Conduct and is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.

The take

The scene started with a car in a tow zone. It ended with:

One loaded 5.56 NATO rifle recovered from an abandoned backpack
31 rounds seized inside the rifle's magazine
One additional 20-round magazine seized
An active larceny warrant closed out
A repeat gun offender with a prior violent-or-drug crime conviction cuffed
A crowd that turned to slurs and fight challenges to defend it all

No officers were injured. No civilians were injured.

Boston cops break up rowdy 2 a.m. Dorchester mob hurling slurs and fight challenges — recover a loaded 5.56 rifle, seize 51 rounds, and haul three to jail

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