Detectives from Springfield and West Springfield say a traffic stop on the 100 block of Baldwin Street in West Springfield turned into a gun seizure, after officers pulled a loaded AR-style assault rifle with a 30-round magazine from a vehicle and arrested an 18-year-old. According to police, the rifle had been reported stolen out of North Carolina, and the teen was booked at the West Springfield Police Department on multiple firearm-related charges.
Detectives say loaded rifle recovered during stop
Springfield Police’s Firearms Investigation Unit and the West Springfield narcotics unit report that detectives found the loaded AR-style rifle and 30-round magazine inside a vehicle during an investigative stop. The department notes that the firearm had been reported stolen out of North Carolina, according to the Springfield Police Department.
Short pursuit led to arrest
Officers approached an 18-year-old as he was getting out of the car at about 6:30 p.m. on May 8, and police say he took off on foot before being stopped after a brief pursuit, as reported by Western Mass News. Authorities say the suspect, identified in reporting as Jaydan Merced, had two active warrants at the time. Two other people who were in the vehicle were detained at the scene and later released.
Firearms unit role and partnerships
The Springfield Police Department’s Firearms Investigation Unit says it concentrates on getting illegal guns off city streets and regularly coordinates with federal and state partners, including the ATF and U.S. Marshals, to pursue cross-jurisdiction cases. That cooperation helps investigators follow weapons that move across state lines, according to the Springfield Police Department.
Charges and booking
Police charged the 18-year-old with resisting arrest and several firearm-related offenses, including possession of a firearm and ammunition without an FID card, carrying a loaded large-capacity firearm on a public way, improper storage of a large-capacity firearm, unlicensed possession of an assault weapon and receiving stolen property. The department says he was booked at the West Springfield Police Department, according to the Springfield Police Department.
The bigger picture
The bust comes as Springfield’s FIU has ramped up its enforcement efforts. Local coverage reports the unit recovered a record 164 illegal firearms in 2025, part of a broader push to crack down on gun trafficking and unlicensed possession. The FIU also encourages residents to share tips about illegal guns, according to Western Mass News.
