SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Police Narcotics Detectives seized two loaded large capacity firearms, approximately 1595 bags of heroin , 175 grams of cocaine and made three arrests on Tuesday.
“Our Narcotics Unit continues to impress me with the amount of guns and drugs they consistently take off the street. Seizing these large capacity firearms and this amount of drugs undoubtedly will make our residents in this North End neighborhood safer as long as this individual is held,” said Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “Great work from our SPD Narcotics Unit in getting these guns and poison off our streets. The tireless efforts from all of our brave and dedicated men and women in blue is truly appreciated as they continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe, even during this COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. Hopefully our court system will be able to keep this gun and drug operations offline and out of our community.”
Over the past several weeks Springfield Police Narcotics Detectives have been investigating the illegal sale of heroin in the cities North End. Detectives identified Juan Colon as the target of the investigation.
On Tuesday afternoon while conducting surveillance Detectives observed what they believed to be Mr. Colon participating in a drug transaction outside his Main Street home. Detectives then conducted a traffic stop of the other individual involved in the transaction on Dover Street. Detectives recovered 50 bags of heroin and arrested the individual for possession.
Detectives then observed Mr. Colon get into a car and eventually stop in a parking lot on the 500 block of Cottage Street. Detectives conducted a traffic stop and detained all three occupants of the car including Mr. Colon. The driver and the other passenger were eventually released.
Narcotics Detectives then secured Mr. Colon’s apartment and applied for and were granted a search warrant. Liz Lopez-Mendez was inside the home and later placed under arrest.
At approximately 9pm Detectives executed the warrant for Mr. Colon’s & Ms. Lopez-Mendez’ Main Street home. Inside the home Detectives recovered approximately 175 grams of cocaine, of which 39 grams were crack-cocaine, an additional 1545 bags of heroin weighing approximately 30 grams, two loaded large capacity firearms and $4072 in cash.
42 year old Juan Colon of Main Street is charged with:
- Cocaine Trafficking 100-200 Grams
- Heroin Trafficking 18-36 Grams
- Possession a Large Capacity Firearm (2 Counts)
- Possession of a Firearm without a FID Card (2 Counts)
- Possession of a High Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device
- Possession of Ammunition without a FID Card
- Improper Storage of a Firearm (2 Counts)
- Distribution of a Class A Drug
38 year old Liz Lopez-Mendez of Main Street is charged with:
- Cocaine Trafficking 100-200 Grams
- Heroin Trafficking 18-36 Grams
- Possession a Large Capacity Firearm (2 Counts)
- Possession of a Firearm without a FID Card (2 Counts)
- Possession of a High Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device
- Possession of Ammunition without a FID Card
- Improper Storage of a Firearm (2 Counts)
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