BOSTON — A man is facing gun and drug charges in connection with a crash that caused significant damage to a nursery school in Boston on Wednesday night, authorities said.
Ronnie Qualls, 53, of the city’s Dorchester neighborhood is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of crack cocaine, and possession of cocaine, according to the Boston Police Department.
Officers patrolling Washington Street observed a vehicle lodged in the front of the Ashmont Nursery School just after 8:30 p.m. and stopped at the scene to investigate, police said.
Police said the driver, later identified as Qualls, dislodged a pipe in the crash, causing water to spray through the interior of the nursery school.
Several people were inside the school at the time of the crash but they escaped injury, according to police.
Qualls was said to be acting “incoherent” and trying to “create distance between himself and the vehicle” after the crash, prompting officers to search the car.
The search of the vehicle yielded a loaded Republic Arms Patriot .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol with six rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber, according to police.
After Qualls was taken into custody, police said officers found him in possession of four bags of crack cocaine and cocaine during the booking process.
Qualls is expected to be called to Dorchester District Court to face the charges.
An investigation is ongoing.
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