BROCKTON — An 18-year-old man was arrested this week for possession of an illegally modified handgun in the city, authorities said.
Brockton Police Detective Jonathan Miranda, acting on a tip, initiated an investigation into Szandor O’Malley after photos appeared on Snapchat showing him with a pistol.
On March 12, at approximately 10 p.m., police observed O’Malley as a passenger in a vehicle in the west-end sector of Brockton.
The vehicle was stopped at the intersection of County St. and Bedford St., where O’Malley was searched and found to have a handgun in his waistband.
The weapon, a 9mm Polymer 80 pistol, was loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition and equipped with a light and an “auto sear switch,” a device that converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic one.
The use of auto sears in firearms has been on the rise, with law enforcement seizures increasing due to their availability through 3D printing technology and illicit online sales from Chinese manufacturers.
O’Malley has been charged with carrying and possession of a loaded machine gun without a license.
The Brockton Police Department encourages anyone with additional information to share it anonymously by submitting a tip on their website or calling 508-99-CRIME.
