Man arrested in Dorchester rooftop chase had prior drug case tied to Annie Dookhan dismissed

By Travis Andersen, Globe Staff

One of three men who led Boston police on a dramatic roof top chase in Dorchester over the weekend had prior drug charges against him dismissed because the state chemist in that case was Annie Dookhan, who is alleged to have tampered with substances she tested, authorities said.

Maykor Baez, 20, of Roslindale, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Dorchester District Court on Monday to drug and gun charges stemming from the chase early Saturday, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office said.

Baez’s lawyer at the arraignment, Jessica Dembro, could not be reached for comment.

According to police and prosecutors, Baez and two other men, Leidys Lugo-Mejia, 24, and Gilbert Rodriguez-Diaz, 21, both of Dorchester, fled from 580 Blue Hill Ave. after officers responded to that address at about 12:30 a.m. for a call for several people with guns.

The trio ran into a neighboring building, got onto the roof, and jumped back over to the roof at 580 Blue Hill Ave., police said.

Boston police Officer Michael Holden made the same leap, police said, and apprehended the men while officers surrounded the building.

Holden said during an afternoon news conference on Monday at police headquarters that the divide between the two roof tops was about four feet.

“It was a calculated decision,” Holden said of making the jump. “It seemed like it took forever.”

Holden said that he handcuffed the men together. Of his dramatic arrest, he said that officers across the city frequently take similar risks in pursuit of suspects.

“This is a little more sensational, but no more dangerous” than situations that police face on a nightly basis, Holden said.

During the incident, police arrested three other men inside 580 Blue Hill Ave. and seized three firearms, as well as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other contraband in and around the building, officials said.

Sergeant Detective William Feeney on Monday estimated the street value of the drugs at about $50,000.

Baez was previously arrested outside the same building in February 2011 on drug and gun charges, but the drug charges were later dismissed because of the tie to Dookhan, who faces criminal charges for allegedly tampering with suspected narcotics during her tenure as a state chemist.

On Monday, Baez was ordered held on $200,000 cash bail on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, according to Conley’s office.

Identical charges were brought against the other five suspects, said Conley’s spokesman.

In addition to Rodriguez-Diaz and Lugo-Mejia, the remaining defendants were identified as Jonathan J. Garcia, 22, of Jamaica Plain, as well as Jose Justiniano, 38, and Jose Q. Santana, 31, both of Dorchester.

Not guilty pleas were entered for all of the men.