Police: Gun-toting drug dealer, associate arrested in the Public Garden

Boston Police report arresting two men on drug charges and one on gun charges after an incident Thursday evening inside the Public Garden.

Police say officers responding to a report of a disturbance by the Swan Boats around 7:40 p.m. spotted Mohamed Soltani, 25, of Quincy and Adnan Tahlil, 22, of Roxbury, sitting on a bench, toking away:

Officers observed a black backpack on the ground in between the two men. When the two suspects made eye contact with the officers, they quickly stood up and walked away from them at a rapid pace, with Soltani slinging the backpack over his shoulder. The officers followed the two suspects and stopped them at which time Soltani began to repeatedly yell at passing pedestrians “Someone film this!” causing an alarmed crowd to gather. As the officers were speaking to the suspects, they observed that Soltani was keeping his body turned away from the officer while pinning his right arm to the right side of his body, leading the officers to believe he may be armed. The officers attempted to perform a pat frisk but the suspect repeatedly pulled away at which time he was placed in handcuffs for officer safety. The officers then recovered a loaded 9mm Walther PPS handgun from the suspect’s waistband area. When the officers asked the suspect if he possessed a License to Carry a Firearm he responded “What’s that?” A search of the backpack revealed 626 Xanax pills, nine bags of marijuana, four bags of cocaine packaged for sale along with other drug paraphernalia at which time the second suspect, Tahlil, was placed in custody without incident. Officers later recovered over $2000 in cash from the men in addition to two counterfeit bills from Tahlil.

Soltani was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, second offence, possession of a Class B drug with intent to distribute, second offense and possession of Class E drugs with intent to distribute, second offense. Tahlil is charged with conspiracy to violate the drug laws, crimes against currency and illegal possession of Class D and E drugs.

Innocent, etc.