Orange Police arrest two men on gun charges

By DOMENIC POLI

Staff Writer

Published: 03-24-2025 3:23 PM

ORANGE — Two men were arrested Sunday afternoon after gunshots were fired as a result of “severe recklessness,” according to the Orange Police Department.

Jose Ivan Diaz Maldonado, 19, was arraigned in Orange District Court on Monday on single counts of improper storage of a firearm, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession of a firearm without FID and possession of a large-capacity feeding device, while Bolivar Rivera-Perez, 18, was arraigned on charges of possession of ammunition without an FID card, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, improper storage of a firearm, discharging a firearm near a highway, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, possession of a large-capacity firearm and possession of large-capacity feeding device. Both pleaded not guilty and were held without bail.

According to the Orange Police Department’s Facebook page, Officers Benjamin Kovacevic and Christopher Bisceglia responded to a report of shots fired at 50 East Main St. at 4:56 p.m. on Sunday. The callers reported multiple shots fired and a window blown out on the second floor.

Kovacevic and Bisceglia reportedly observed broken glass and a screen, with apparent bullet holes, on the ground upon their arrival and secured the two suspects, along with one woman and a 1½-year-old child in a second-floor apartment.

“As a result of the investigation conducted, we have no reason to believe that the shots were fired toward a person,” Police Chief James Sullivan wrote in the Facebook post. “This was an instance of severe recklessness that fortunately did not result in any injuries.”

Sullivan thanked the Athol and Erving Police departments for sending officers to assist on scene, the New Salem Police Department for responding to unrelated calls in Orange, and Detective Luis Rivera of the Easthampton Police Department for responding to serve as a translator due to a language barrier.

Both defendants are due back in court on April 25.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

The ills of a billion-dollar enterprise: The slow-death of the cannabis industry, and what might be done to reverse the trend
Greenfield Fire Station’s energy use 250% higher than expected
Avery’s General Store building in Charlemont for sale
Former Mohawk Trail ski coach, Rowe park manager sued for alleged sexual assault of former student
Sex assault complaint spurs review at Mohawk Trail Regional School District
UMass hockey: Minutemen fall to Western Michigan, 2-1, in Fargo Regional final