CHICOPEE — A routine traffic stop early Sunday morning led to the arrest of a Three Rivers man on multiple firearms charges, including possession of a stolen gun, police said.
Officers patrolling Taylor Street around 3 a.m. noticed a car parked in the roadway with its lights off.
As they watched, a passenger exited and walked behind another parked car.
The vehicle then began to move slowly down the street, prompting officers to suspect a possible break-in attempt and conduct a stop.
The driver, identified as 28-year-old Brandon Thompson-Clay, became confrontational and initially refused to provide identification.
After several minutes, he presented a paper license, which a check revealed to be invalid.
Thompson-Clay was informed he was under arrest, and during an inventory of the vehicle prior to towing, officers found a loaded firearm under the driver’s seat.
Neither Thompson-Clay nor the female passenger had a valid license to carry a firearm.
Further investigation determined the gun had been reported stolen from Vermont.
Thompson-Clay faces charges including motor vehicle lights violation, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a large capacity firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license for the second offense, firearm violation with three prior violent or drug crimes, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and receiving stolen property worth over $1,200.
