New Bedford Police Officer Arrested, Facing Firearm Charges

NEW BEDFORD — A city police officer was arrested last week and charged with improper storage of his firearm, a felony and assault following a domestic incident involving another officer in the department.

Robinson Ubri, who joined the department in 2018, has been placed on administrative leave, Police Chief Paul Oliveira confirmed last week. The department has launched an internal investigation into the case and declined to comment, saying it is an “ongoing personnel matter.”

John Seed, Ubri’s attorney, declined comment on behalf of himself and Ubri. He said they would “give the criminal justice process time to unfold.” Ubri was arraigned May 2 in New Bedford District Court and pleaded not guilty.

According to a police report, Ubri texted the other officer, with whom he had an “on-off” relationship, before arriving at her apartment. When he arrived, the officer allegedly ended the relationship and tried to stop Ubri from entering her apartment.

Ubri, according to the responding officer’s narrative, then became “physical” and “pushed” the other officer “in the chest area with both hands” to get into the apartment, where an “unidentified male” was located. Ubri then disappeared, according to the police report.

The man who was in the apartment is listed as “unknown.” The department did not respond to a question about who the other person was.

After the department responded to the initial call, a police captain went to Ubri’s home and seized a handgun with a capacity of more than 10 rounds that was unsecured and had no trigger lock, according to the police report.

Seed and a department spokesman did not confirm whether it was his department-issued firearm.

Under state law, it is illegal to store a large-capacity firearm “in any location unless such firearm is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other security device properly latched to the firearm.” to make it unusable.” ”

Violation of this law is a felony punishable by a fine of at least $2,000 or imprisonment for at least 1½ years.

The burglary and assault charges against Ubri can also result in fines or prison sentences.

Ubri is scheduled to appear in court next month.

Email Anastasia E. Lennon at [email protected].