In a sharp turn of events yesterday morning, Springfield Police Officers, lead by Lieutenant Brian Elliott, apprehended three individuals and recovered an illegal firearm, following a brief yet chaotic vehicular incident. The sequence began unfolding when authorities spotted a stolen vehicle cruising on Genesee Street.
According to the Springfield Police Department's official account, a subsequent traffic stop was initiated on Albany Street. However, the driver Zachary Hardy, in a futile attempt to flee, collided with a police cruiser. Both Hardy and his two companions, 18-year-old Teyvaun Williams-Santiago and an unnamed 16-year-old juvenile, were promptly arrested after Hardy eventually parked the car.
Post-arrest, an inspection of Hardy's possessions revealed an unloaded firearm inside his crossbody bag, which was capable of holding a whopping 15 rounds of ammunition. Despite the potential for graver outcomes, it was reported that no one sustained injuries during the crash. The vehicle Hardy had been operating was reportedly stolen from Worcester.
Zachary Hardy of Gardner, aged 18, is now facing several charges, including receiving a stolen motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, and carrying an unloaded large capacity firearm on a public way, among others. His peer, Teyvaun Williams-Santiago from West Springfield, is also being charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle. Details concerning the juvenile’s name, photo, and charges are withheld due to his age.
