During a routine traffic stop, Springfield police arrested three individuals and seized a loaded "ghost gun," drugs, and cash. The incident took place on School Street yesterday afternoon when officers noticed a vehicle lacking the required inspection credentials, according to a statement from the Springfield Police Department.
Upon further investigation, officers observed what appeared to be a firearm peaking out from the jacket pocket of a 17-year-old backseat passenger. The observation prompted a search, resulting in the seizure of the firearm – a "ghost gun" loaded with 16 rounds – alongside additional ammunition, multiple bags of marijuana, crack-cocaine, a digital scale and over $1300 in cash. Carlos Ocasio, 19, and Johanna Garcia, 19, were also in the vehicle and faced subsequent arrest, according to the Springfield Police Department.
Ghost guns are firearms that can be assembled from kits or created with 3D printers, and they lack serial numbers, rendering them untraceable by standard gun tracking methods. Their rise has raised concerns among law enforcement agencies across the country.
The consequences of possessing such items are severe, for 19-year-old Carlos Ocasio, charges include conspiracy to violate drug law, possession with the intent to distribute Class B and D drugs, and possession of ammunition without an FID card, along with a violation of probation warrant from Hampden Superior Court. Johanna Garcia's charges mirror Ocasio's partially, her charges comprising of conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute a Class D drug.
As is standard for minors involved in legal proceedings, the 17-year-old's identity and charges have not been disclosed due to privacy laws that protect underage individuals' identities in such circumstances.
