Above: A press release issued today included this photo with the caption, “Southborough Police seized a handgun and two magazines packed with hollow-point and full metal jacket rounds following an overnight traffic stop.”
The Southborough Police Department issued a press release today about arrests made during a traffic stop overnight on Route 9.
The suspects were allegedly pulled over for driving a car with an invalid inspection sticker. According to the release, the driver (who had a suspended license) and a passenger were then arrested and charged after the officer discovered a handgun and bag of unmarked pills.
Here is the SPD’s (redacted) release:
Southborough Police Arrest Two on Gun and Drug Charges After Late-night Traffic Stop
Chief Ryan Newell reports that the Southborough Police Department arrested two suspects on gun and drug charges early Thursday morning following a Turnpike Road traffic stop.
[SUSPECT 1], AGE 24, of WORCESTER, was arrested and charged with the following:
- Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card (Misdemeanor)
- Class E Drug Possession (Misdemeanor)
- Carrying a Firearm Without a License (Felony)
[SUSPECT 2], AGE 26, of WORCESTER, was arrested and charged with the following:
- Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card (Misdemeanor)
- Class E Drug Possession (Misdemeanor)
- Carrying a Firearm Without a License (Felony)
- Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- No Inspection Sticker
- Equipment Violation
At about 2 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 4, Southborough Police Patrolman Panajoti Samarxhi was patrolling Turnpike Road when he determined that a black 2006 Honda Pilot did not have a valid inspection sticker. Patrolman Samarxhi initiated a motor vehicle stop and spoke to the driver, later identified as [SUSPECT 2], and determined that her driver’s license had been suspended in Rhode Island. A male passenger in the vehicle, identified as [SUSPECT 1], told police that he also did not have a valid driver’s license.
The driver and passenger were informed that the vehicle would be towed. Police Sgt.
Thomas Rock and Detective Anthony Vega arrived to assist.
Police found a black handgun in the vehicle’s unlocked center console while conducting an inventory of the vehicle’s contents.
The handgun was loaded with seven bullets, four of which were hollow-points and the other three were Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) rounds.
[SUSPECT 1] and [SUSPECT 2] were arrested and handcuffed. A background query revealed that neither occupant had a license to carry a firearm. Since neither the driver nor the occupant claimed responsibility for the gun, the vehicle inventory became a vehicle search.
Police also found a second magazine loaded with six bullets (all FMJ) and a small plastic bag containing 115 red and black unmarked pills.
Detective Vega determined the handgun, a 0.45-caliber Colt 1911, had never been registered with the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) Firearms Records Bureau (FRB).
Both [SUSPECT 1] and [SUSPECT 2] were transported to Westborough District Court, where bail was set at $5,000 each.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
