CHICOPEE — A routine property check at Szot Park led to the arrest of a Ludlow man late Monday night when a police officer discovered him asleep in a vehicle with a firearm.
At around 10:30 p.m. on May 13, a Chicopee Police Department officer found the vehicle parked in Szot Park, which is closed to the public after dusk.
The male driver, identified as 24-year-old Matthew Swenor of Ludlow, was found sleeping with the seat reclined.
After the officer gained Swenor’s attention and directed him to exit the vehicle, he informed Swenor of the trespassing violation due to the park’s after-hours policy.
Swenor was placed under arrest, and during an inventory of the vehicle, the officer found a firearm in a cross-body bag.
Swenor now faces multiple charges, including trespassing, carrying a firearm without a License to Carry (LTC), carrying a loaded firearm without an LTC, and possession of ammunition without a Firearms Identification (FID) card.
The Chicopee Police Department reminds residents that all city parks are closed after dusk and are clearly marked with no trespassing signs.
The incident remains under investigation.
