Springfield police made a significant find Tuesday night after pulling over a vehicle for inspection violations, resulting in two arrests and the seizure of a loaded large-capacity "Ghost Gun". According to the Springfield Police Department, officers initiated the traffic stop on State Street which took an unexpected turn as the driver, identified as 18-year-old Samuel Irenes-Colon, engaged in a cat-and-mouse game stopping several times before finally halting on Catharine Street.
Irenes-Colon was subsequently taken into custody for failure to stop. During the traffic stop officers noticed a prepackaged bag of marijuana, which both the driver and passenger were illegally in possession of due to their age. Their search of the vehicle's glove box revealed a Ghost Gun armed with 11 rounds of ammunition leading to the arrest of the passenger, 20-year-old Tavion Ross.
Both Springfield residents are facing serious charges.
Irenes-Colon's charges include:
- Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
- Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm
- Possession of a Firearm without a License
- Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class D Drug
- Failure to Stop for Police
Ross is charged with similar firearms violations:
- Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
- Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm
- Possession of a Firearm without a License
- Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device
The discovery underscores a troubling trend of untraceable firearms known as Ghost Guns, which have increasingly been showing up in criminal cases across the country. Springfield Police continue to investigate the matter.
