Springfield's streets are slightly safer today after cops bagged a loaded ghost gun and a stash of drugs in a bust that also netted two arrests. According to the Springfield Police Department, the Firearms Investigation Unit, led by Sgt. Christopher Hitas, cracked down on a 17-year-old male and a 21-year-old accomplice Wednesday night.
In a search rooted in months of investigation into illegal firearms, detectives managed to not only locate but also to quickly seize a large-capacity Ghost Gun equipped with 13 rounds. The sting operation, unfolding at around 10:30 p.m. on the 0-100 block of Benton Street, saw detectives applying for and getting the green light for a search warrant after receiving a tip-off regarding the juvenile's possession of a firearm.
The subsequent raid of the residence secured both the suspects and a treasure trove of illicit materials. A second firearm magazine with the capacity to hold a daunting 33 rounds, additional rounds of loose ammunition, over $3,100 in cash, and a number of pre-packaged bags of marijuana were discovered. The drug cache and the firepower on hand highlighted a clear and present danger on Springfield's streets.
The youthful suspect at the heart of the case, whose name the authorities have withheld due to his age, was cuffed alongside Janiel Camacho. Camacho is now staring down the barrel of charges including possession of ammunition without an FID card along with the intent to likely distribute marijuana, a Class D drug. While the younger suspect's details have been kept confidential, Camacho's charges were detailed in a statement acquired by SPD's official release.
