Officers Leo Silvera and Francis Nova along with Lawrence Police Gang Unit Detective Sean O’Keefe were conducting routine surveillance in the Alder and Poplar Street area. This area is known for drug and gang activity. During the surveillance Detective O’Keefe observed several males coming and going from a Poplar Street address, which has been known for drug activity in the past. As Officers Silvera and Nova approach a male leaving the address he immediately began to act in aggressive manner towards the officers.

The male was an individual whom Officer Silvera had arrested during a previous incident involving a firearm. The individual Kenny Pena age 19 of Methuen continued to get increasingly agitated as the officers continued to speak to him.  In order to ensure everyone’s safety,  Officer Silvera performed a pat frisk of Pena during which he felt an object in Pena’s waistband consistant with a firearm. Officer Silvera proceeded to remove a loaded hand gun from Pena's waistband. Pena was arraigned in Lawrence District Court on several firearms related charges