Wellesley Police Log: Weapons and Road Rage Don't Mix

The following reports were provided by the Wellesley Police Department. Charges where mentioned do not indicate a conviction. 

He Keeps Turning Up

While performing traffic enforcement on a crowded Washington Street, 11 a.m. on Feb. 19, Officer Cunningham reported seeing a Chevrolet van speeding in a 30 mph zone. A radar scan reported the van was going 49 mph. Police pulled the van over at Washington Street and Benvenue Street. 

When asked for the license and registration, the driver said he did not have his license, but provided registration for the car. He told police he had a Brazilian license, and had been in the States for several years. After performing an NCIC check, the officer determined his right to drive had been suspended in Mass. 

Police took Paulo Maia, 44, of Revere into custody. During booking, police learned that he had been previously deported and was wanted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

ICE took custody of Maia. Wellesley Police did not issue any charges, as this would delay ICE's deporation process, while he faced the charges. 

Weapons and Road Rage Don't Mix

The victim initially reported the incident to a Wellesley Officer Barrows--who was working a detail at the time--told police he was driving on Route 9 westbound when another driver brandished a black handgun at him near the Elliot Street intersection in Newton.

The suspect was also traveling westbound on Route 9, reports said. He was described as a heavy-set man wearing glasses and driving a black Toyota Tacoma. 

Barrows radioed the information to WPD dispatchers, who sent the information to WPD units.Wellesley Police managed to stop the Toyota Tacoma and found the driver was in possession of a double-edged knife and a loaded .380 Beretta handgun. Officer Dixon reports that the driver confirmed he was involved in the road rage incident.

Joseph Foppiano, 46, of 6 Leewood Road, Wellesley, was initially arrested in Wellesley for possession of a dangerous weapon (double-edged knife). He was released on personal recognizance, at which point the Newton Police Department transported Foppiano to Newton, and charged him with assault with a dangerous weapon (handgun). 

Foppiano was properly licensed to carry the handgun, reports said. 

Newton Patch reports this was the second weapons-related road rage incident within a week: on Thursday, Feb. 14, a Newton man was arrested after he allegedly pulled a loaded gun on a fellow driver on Dedham Street.