A routine traffic stop on Route 91 turned into a significant bust for state troopers in Whately when they arrested a 21-year-old man found in possession of narcotics and a firearm. According to an official report from the Massachusetts State Police, the incident unfolded shortly before 8 p.m on January 2.
Trooper Joshua Kopeski, who is with the State Police Troop B Community Action Team, was patrolling when he ran a license plate check on a white Nissan SUV. The check revealed a mismatch - the plates were meant for a Saturn VUE. Initiating a traffic stop, Trooper Kopeski encountered the driver, identified as Mathew Lopez of Springfield. An inventory of the vehicle, prompted by its improper registration, led to the discovery of around 500 wax packets of a substance believed to be Heroin in the trunk.
The police action escalated when Trooper Kopeski, joined by Trooper Jack Sarnacki, expanded their search and uncovered a Glock 19 pistol with a 15-round magazine and an additional extended 30-round magazine. The State Police confirmed that Lopez is not licensed to carry firearms.
Following the findings, Lopez was transported to the Northampton Barracks where he was booked on multiple charges, including trafficking in Fentanyl and illegal possession of a firearm. The bail for Lopez, whom was subsequently arraigned at Greenfield District Court, was set at $25,000, as noted in the Massachusetts State Police report.
The list of charges faced by Lopez is lengthy: Trafficking in Fentanyl, Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Possession of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, four counts, Attaching Wrong Motor Vehicle Plates, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, and Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle. These proceedings add yet another layer to the continuing struggle between law enforcement and the often unseen undertows of contraband that flow beneath the veneer of everyday life.
