SPD C3 Metro Unit Seizes Machine Gun, Trafficking Weight of Cocaine
Springfield, Mass. — At approximately 10:00 a.m. on Thursday June 27th, members of the C3 Metro Unit and C3 Mason Square unit arrested 29-year-old Jose Sandoval-Baez and seized a machine gun, trafficking weight of crack-cocaine and heroin.
Around 9:55 a.m., Springfield Police Officers in the C3 Metro Unit were patrolling the area of Salem Street and Spring Street when they observed a drug deal.
As soon as the alleged drug dealer, later identified as Jose Sandoval-Baez, saw the police he began to run away. Sandoval-Baez ran out of room to run when he encountered a locked fence. Officers took him into custody on the 0-100 block of Spring Street.
Officers then searched his backpack and seized an illegal firearm that was outfitted with a sear-selector or Glock-switch. This turns a firearm into a fully automatic machine gun. The firearm was loaded with 28 rounds of ammunition. Officers then recovered a trafficking weight of crack-cocaine and 40 bags of heroin inside his backpack. Officers would then recover an additional eight bags of heroin on Sandoval-Baez and nearly $1100 in cash.
Sandoval-Baez has two prior convictions for heroin distribution.
29-year-old Jose Sandoval-Baez of Springfield is charged with:
- Firearm Violation with Two Prior Violent/Drug Crimes
- Trafficking in Cocaine 18-36 Grams
- Possession of a Loaded Machine Gun
- Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm
- Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device
- Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm
- Possession of a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number
- Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
- Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
- Resisting Arrest
- Drug Violation near School/Park
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug – Subsequent Offense
