Gun Seized, 3 Salem Officers Injured In Street Fight With 50+ Involved: Police

SALEM, MA — A street fight involving 50 or more people and onlookers led to the seizure of a loaded semiautomatic pistol, three officers injured and gun charges against a Salem resident, police said on Tuesday.

Salem police said they responded to reports of a "large fight in progress" in the area of 51 Harbor Street at about 2 a.m. on Saturday and found a "chaotic scene" with people "creating a disturbance and refusing to disperse."

One person, whom the police identified as Cesar Pimentel, 35, of Salem, was on a moped and was known to have a suspended license. Police said he became "combative and ran from the scene" when stopped and questioned.

"During the ensuing struggle, three officers sustained minor injuries," police said. "Pimentel was found to be in possession of a loaded semiautomatic pistol."

Pimentel was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, carrying a firearm without a license (second offense), possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card (FID), improper storage of a firearm, disorderly conduct and what police called "multiple charges stemming from the unlicensed operation of a moped."