In a late-night patrol turned firearm bust, Worcester Police apprehended two men on Main Street for a litany of firearms offenses. The incident unraveled in the early hours yesterday when officers spotted 23-year-old Onix Aviles, a familiar face to law enforcement, disembark from a vehicle carrying a sizable satchel. An ensuing check revealed his lack of a driver's license, according to the Worcester Police Department.
Not long after, the same officers witnessed Aviles driving the aforementioned car and promptly executed a traffic stop on Southbridge Street. Support arrived, and Aviles, along with his passenger, 29-year-old Felix Mejias, were asked to step out of the vehicle. A subsequent police search of the car yielded a large capacity magazine concealed in the glove box and a black gun casually laying between the rear seats.
Backup units and the Crime Scene Unit descended upon the scene to confiscate the loaded weapon. Aviles now faces numerous charges, including Carrying a Firearm without a License, Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License, and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License, among others. Mejias's charges mirror those of Aviles, with both men in violation of firearms and ammunition licensing laws.
Worcester Police Department notes that the vehicle search and arrests took place without incident, highlighting the procedural efficiency of the officers involved. Firearms without proper licensure pose a grave threat to public safety, and the department's swift action likely averted potential harm. Full details of the charges against Aviles and Mejias are available in the police department's press release.
