SPD FIU Detectives Seize Three Loaded Firearms, Including a Machine Gun, Trafficking Weight of Crack-Cocaine and Heroin

SPD FIU Detectives Seize Three Loaded Firearms, including a Machine Gun, Trafficking Weight of Crack-Cocaine and Heroin

Armed Suspect Attempted to Disarm a Detective Breaking his Holster in the Process

Springfield, Mass. — On Wednesday May 11th at approximately 9:50 p.m. Springfield Police Department Detectives assigned to the Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU) under the direction of Lt. Brian Beliveau and Sgt. Christopher Hitas seized three loaded firearms, including a machine gun, approximately 85 grams of crack-cocaine, more than $900, 160 bags of heroin and arrested four suspects after an illegal firearms investigation on the 0-100 block of Fort Pleasant Avenue.

Two of the suspects, Joshua Santiago and Brandon Lamore, have prior firearms convictions. Another armed suspect, Jose Gonzalez-Feliciano, attempted to disarm a Detective while being placed under arrest breaking the Detective’s holster in the process.

On Wednesday evening Detectives received information that Gonzalez-Feliciano, a member of a local street gang the Knox Street Posse, was illegally in possession of a firearm. Around 8:30 p.m. Detectives located the suspect and three other individuals in the rear of 58 Fort Pleasant Avenue in and around two vehicles. Detectives then attempted to detain the individuals and secure the vehicle as part of their investigation.

One known suspect, Joshua Santiago, immediately ran away through a gap in a fence. Assisting Springfield Police Officers located Santiago and took him into custody in the area of 26-30 Fort Pleasant Avenue.

Gonzalez-Feliciano refused to comply to Detectives commands, began reaching into his pocket, but was unable to retrieve anything at that time. Gonzalez-Feliciano then turned his attention to a Detective’s holstered department issued firearm, violently yanking at the gun and breaking the holster in the process. Detectives were then able to gain control of Gonzalez-Feliciano and place him into handcuffs. Detectives recovered a firearm with a defaced serial number loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition, 40 bags of heroin and approximately 6 bags of crack-cocaine inside Gonzalez-Feliciano’s pocket.

Simultaneously, Detectives detained two other individuals; Lamore and Christian Vazquez. Detectives located a firearm loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition and approximately 10 grams of crack-cocaine inside a fanny pack that Lamore was wearing.

Inside one of the vehicles, Detectives located a loaded large capacity machine gun. The firearm loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition had a laser attachment and an auto-sear selector making it capable of firing in a fully-automatic manner. Also inside that vehicle Detectives recovered 120 packaged bags of heroin and approximately 69 grams of crack-cocaine.

“I am very happy that none of our officers got hurt in what was a very volatile and dangerous situation. The Detectives had information there was one gun involved, but three of the four suspects were armed and had significant firepower with large capacity and fully automatic weapons. The brazen actions by one of the suspects is simply unacceptable. Our dedicated Firearms Investigation Unit continues to help our community by putting a serious dent in the amount of gun violence in our city. The unit alone has seized more than 60 illegally possessed firearms this year. Now we need our courts to do their part in holding these violent repeat offenders who getting more and more emboldened by the lack of consequences everyday,” said Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “Once again, our dedicated Springfield police officers arrest more suspects who are out on our streets and in our neighborhoods with previous gun charges. Terrific work by our brave men and women of the SPD, especially our Firearms Investigation Unit, in taking these dangerous individuals and their illegal guns and the poison they sell off our streets and out of our neighborhoods. Thankfully, our officers were not injured as one of the suspects tried to take one of the police officers firearm from his holster. These officers showed great restraint in making these arrest in the face of such aggressive behavior towards them. These individuals were seriously armed, with a machine gun, and we are lucky that no one was hurt by their blatant disregard for public safety. I hope that our courts now do their job and hold them accountable for their brazen crimes otherwise the courts will be just encouraging them to commit more gun and drug crimes without any consequences.”

21-year-old Jose Gonzalez-Feliciano of Springfield is charged with:

Carrying a Firearm without a License (2 Counts)
Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License (2 Counts)
Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way (2 Counts)
Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm during the Commission of a Felony (6 Counts)
Possession of a Machine Gun
Possession of a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number
Assault & Battery Attempt to Disarm a Police Officer
Cocaine Trafficking 36-100 Grams
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
Resisting Arrest
Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug

27-year-old Joshua Santiago of Springfield is charged with:

Possession of a Machine Gun
Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way
Carrying a Firearm without a License
Cocaine Trafficking 36-100 Grams
Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
Firearm Violation with 1 Prior Violent/Drug Crime
Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm
Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License – 2nd Offense
Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm during the Commission of a Felony (3 Counts)