SPD Officers Arrest Armed Suspect after ShotSpotter Activation
Springfield, Mass. — On Monday November 11th at approximately 9:00 p.m., Springfield Police Officers assigned to Squad C along with members of the Springfield Police C3 Unit seized a loaded large capacity firearm and crack-cocaine after responding to a ShotSpotter activation.
Around 8:50 p.m. officers responded to the 100 block of Dawes Street for a ShotSpotter activation. Officers were already in the area of the shooting and located a suspect matching the description of the shooter on Catherine Street. Officers detained the suspect, later identified as Melvin Mercedes-Rodriguez, on the 700 block of State Street and located a loaded firearm in his waistband. He was placed under arrest.
The serial number on the firearm was obliterated and was capable of holding 13 rounds of ammunition. Officers also recovered approximately 14 grams of crack-cocaine from Mercedes-Rodriguez.
22-year-old Melvin Mercedes-Rodriguez of Springfield is charged with:
- Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Building
- Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
- Possession of a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number During the Commission of a Felony
- Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
- Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device
- Carrying a Firearm on School Grounds
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
- Drug Violation Near School/Park
