Police say sidewalk ice aids in arrest of a gun suspect in Dorchester

Boston Police report that when officers pulled over a driver on Harvard Street in Dorchester for a traffic stop early this morning, one passenger got out and ran away - only to slip on ice outside Sun Pizza on Blue Hill Avenue, which let them catch up and arrest him for the gun they say he tossed during his failed escape.

According to police, officers on patrol spotted a car with what seemed to be excessive window tinting turning onto Harvard Street from Blue Hill Avenue around 2:40 a.m. They queried the car's plates and the car came back as unregistered and uninsured, so they pulled the car over at Wales Street and ordered the driver out to be arrested.

The officers approached the rear passenger, later identified as Tavarge Thomas, 23 of Dorchester, and requested him to exit the vehicle several times. Thomas leaned forward and demanded that the officers tell him the address of the stop. The officers answered him more than once, and opened the door demanding him to exit. As the officer prepared to pat frisk Thomas, he fled on foot down Harvard Street towards Blue Hill Avenue. Thomas continued on Blue Hill Avenue where he slipped on ice in front of 870 Blue Hill Avenue, where he was secured.

Thomas was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition for the black Heckler & Koch firearm officers said he tossed during his run, police say.

The driver was charged with a variety of auto offenses, including excessive window tinting, police say.

Innocent, etc.