Springfield's streets saw the apprehension of a repeat offender this week when Springfield Police Department's Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU) clamped down on 26-year-old Joshua Heathman. Heathman, who was on law enforcement's radar with an active arrest warrant, was nabbed with a stash that included a loaded gun, narcotics, and a wad of cash.
According to a report by the Springfield Police Department, the bust went down on Tuesday at around 5:20 p.m. Heathman, while hanging around the Rochelle Street area, was spotted by FIU detectives. The detectives, in the process of another investigation at the time, recognized Heathman as someone whom a Springfield District Court sought for his apprehension.
When backup arrived, Heathman decided to hit the road. As detectives lit up their emergency signals, he made a break for it on foot. It didn't take long for the officers to catch up with him just a few houses away from where the chase began. The moment he was detained, his backpack became the center of attention revealing its illicit contents.
Sifting through Heathman's possessions, officers discovered not just any firearm—but one that was loaded. The search also unearthed approximately 58 bags of heroin, pepper spray, and two bags of crack cocaine. Heathman, a familiar face to law enforcement, was not new to the criminal justice system. Last year, he faced convictions for firearms charges linked to a 2020 Springfield arrest, landing him a 90-day stint behind bars. Back in 2016, Vermont also had him on felony narcotics charges.
The Springfield Police Department has since listed the charges against Heathman, including convicted felon in possession of a firearm, multiple firearms offenses during the commission of a felony, carrying a weapon while on an active warrant, and intent to distribute class A and B drugs. Heathman's past convictions and this latest arrest shed light on the revolving door of repeat offenses plaguing the community.
