Two Rhode Island men arrested after an armed standoff with police on Interstate-95 in Massachusetts over the weekend appeared in court Tuesday.
Quinn Cumberlander, 40, of Pawtucket and Jamhal Tavon Sanders Latimer, 29, of Providence were arraigned in Malden District Court. They were among 11 people arrested after an hourslong standoff that resulted in the closure of parts of the busy highway on Saturday. The group is allegedly an armed faction of the group “Rise of the Moors,” which is based in Pawtucket.
The judge asked that pleas of Not Guilty be entered on behalf of Cumberlander and Latimer.
Two of the defendants will continue their arraignments tomorrow, one defendant had still not been fingerprinted or positively identified. One defendant, a 17-year old, will be arraigned at a later date, expected to be held in Juvenile Court in Cambridge, Massachusetts. All defendants arraigned Tuesday are being held without bail until a hearing Friday to determine whether they are dangerous.
For about five hours Judge Emily Karstetter presided over the hearings for seven men charged in what prosecutors are calling a “joint venture” that illegally handled and transported weapons through Massachusetts.
The 11 defendants all face a number of weapons-related charges including unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of a firearm and conspiracy to commit a crime. They also face a maximum penalty of up to ten years in state prison stemming from charges for the possession of a high capacity magazine, the judge said.
“I want you to understand,” Karstetter told one defendant identified as John Doe. “There is a significant potential penalty.”
In Malden, the typically procedural hearings started and stopped as defendants refused to identify themselves, spoke over the judge, and several times offered unclear answers about their decision to retain counsel or represent themselves.
Several times, the judge reminded defendants that what they said during the hearing could be used against them by the prosecution.
There were numerous outbursts from people watching the proceedings online, including a number of people shouting “treason” when Karstetter spoke. One of the men charged was removed from the courtroom after an outburst to continue his hearing in a separate room via video feed.
Quinn Cumberlander, who asked to be identified by a name inaudible over the online video feed, told the court he was not a citizen of the United States.
“I’m a foreign national,” Cumberlander said, before asking that the trial be moved to federal court.
“You will have full opportunity to address the court,” Karstetter replied. The judge reiterated this to most of the defendants throughout the proceedings.
Cumberlander cited the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as well as a number of court cases in an apparent effort to end the proceedings.
Latimer, a former U.S. Marine, asked to be referred to as Jamhal Bey and claimed to be the head of the group. He appeared in the courtroom shortly before 2:30, wearing a face mask and a white t-shirt behind a plexi-glass barrier. Prosecutors referred to him earlier in the proceedings as the “leader.”
“You understand that you are charged with a number of crimes?” Karstetter asked.
“I do not understand,” he replied.
During the hearing Karstetter appeared unsatisfied that Latimer understood he was waiving his right to an attorney.
“I cannot accept your waiver. You will be represented,” she began before she was interrupted by people shouting online. The judge requested Latimer speak to an attorney about the decision.
At least one defendant, Robert Rodriguez, 21, referred to Bey (Latimer) as his counsel. Karstetter said that Latimer could not serve as counsel, because he is a co-defendant and not permitted to practice law in Massachusetts.
Court adjourned for the day at 5pm. The other defendants in the case are expected to appear for hearings Wednesday.
With reports from Jeremy Bernfeld
