Man faces charges of weapons possession, breaking into car in Swampscott

LYNN – A judge ordered $2,500 cash bail for a Dorchester man who allegedly threatened a man with a gun and used the weapon to break into the man’s car after an argument in Swampscott Tuesday night.But a defense attorney questioned whether the gun – and numerous gun parts recovered from the scene – belonged to the defendant or the alleged victim and a witness, according to court documents.Allen Chandler, 32, of 6 Sawyer Ave. #1, Dorchester, was arrested and charged with nighttime felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle; possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card; possession of a firearm without a firearms identification card; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; and violation of a town knife ordinance; at 11:55 p.m. Tuesday.He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment Wednesday in Lynn District Court.Swampscott Police reported responding to a Pine Street address late Tuesday night on a call of shots fired and meeting the alleged victim.”(He was) standing in front of the house pointing down the driveway shouting ?he’s down there…he has a gun,'” Swampscott Police Officer Kevin Reen wrote in a report. “He kept shouting and yelling ?he tried to shoot me.'”Police reported there was a basket of clothes scattered on the ground, and a man, later identified as Chandler, was in the driveway standing between a Volvo and a Chevy SUV with its passenger door open and back window shattered. The Volvo had a closed gun case on the front seat, inside of which an officer found ammunition for a handgun, police reported.Police reported handcuffing Chandler for their safety, while the defendant insisted he “didn’t do nothing, I was just trying to get my stuff back.”Chandler allegedly admitted to breaking into the alleged victim’s car, but insisted he was just trying to retrieve his belongings. Police reported finding a black revolver with a broken butt at the scene and a piece of the revolver by the door of the Chevy.The alleged victim told police he and Chandler had argued because the alleged victim accused Chandler of selling drugs from the home. The alleged victim said he then announced he was leaving and told Chandler he needed to move his car, according to police. The alleged victim said he was in the car when he saw Chandler holding a black handgun, according to police. The alleged victim reported he immediately ran, police said.Police said the alleged victim reported he tried to hide and then heard what he thought were gunshots and called police from his cell phone.A woman inside the house reported hearing yelling and then hearing three loud bangs, police said.Police reported finding several rounds of ammunition, handgun cases, and handgun holsters in the Volvo. The alleged victim also later gave police 11 pistol magazines (including two 31-round extended 9-millimeter magazines) gun locks, a set of firearm grips and a holster, police reported. The alleged victim allegedly found the items in between the mattresses in a room where Chandler was staying. Police said in reports that additional charges may be filed, but as of now, the charges do not include any indication that shots were actually fired.Essex Assistant District Attorney Brendan Kelley requested Chandler be held on $25,000 cash, according to court documents. But Defense Attorney Jim O’Shea said the complaining witnesses may have owned the guns, Judge Ellen Flatley noted in court documents. She ordered $2,500 cash bail and scheduled Chandler to return to court Dec. 16.