A mystery duffel bag that apparently dropped into an empty storage unit in Waltham ended with a Lowell man in handcuffs, after police say they uncovered a defaced Glock and 14 pounds of marijuana tied to the space upstairs.
Waltham police say officers were called to the Extra Space Storage facility on River Street on March 9, after an employee found a duffel bag and a loaded Glock 10mm magazine sitting in a supposedly vacant unit. Staff told officers the gear appeared to have fallen from the unit above. Investigators later tracked down the renter, who showed up at the Waltham Police Department and was taken into custody.
How Police Say The Stash Was Found
According to the Waltham Police Department, a detective opened the duffel bag and recovered an unloaded Glock 10mm handgun. The serial number on the firearm had been defaced, police say. When detectives checked the occupied unit above, they report finding documents that matched the renter’s information, along with 14 one-pound bags of marijuana packaged in a way officers described as consistent with distribution.
Investigators applied for and received a search warrant, then contacted the suspected renter, who agreed to come to the station and was interviewed. As reported by Newport Dispatch, the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Evwin Teo-Grijalva of Lowell, admitted owning both the firearm and the marijuana. He was arrested and charged.
Storage Units And Contraband
The River Street facility where police say the items were discovered is operated by Extra Space Storage. Industry coverage has documented that self-storage managers sometimes intercept suspected drug shipments and call police, highlighting how storage units can become a quiet conduit for illicit goods. Extra Space Storage lists the Waltham property at 37 River St., and a previous incident involving marijuana at an Extra Space location is noted by trade outlet Inside Self-Storage.
Charges And Next Steps
Police booked Teo-Grijalva on charges that include possession with intent to distribute Class D marijuana, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, receiving an untraceable firearm, and receiving stolen property valued at 1,200 dollars. The arrest took place on March 31, and the case is now moving through the Middlesex court system, according to Newport Dispatch.
The Waltham Police Department lists press contacts and a non-emergency line on the city’s website for residents and reporters with questions. For those curious about the facility at the center of the case, the River Street Extra Space listing linked above provides the property’s address, access details, and hours.
