SPRINGFIELD — A coordinated effort by the Springfield Police Department led to the arrest of six individuals linked to a series of armed robberies, authorities said Thursday.
The Springfield Police Detective Bureau, directed by Captain Trent Duda, and the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, led by Captain Brian Keenan, worked in collaboration with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department to apprehend the suspects on Wednesday night.
Around 9 p.m., police arrested four suspects on the 100 block of Wayne Street and two others on Jasper Street and Dearborn Street.
Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers commended the officers for their work in capturing the armed individuals who had recently become more aggressive, assaulting a store clerk and increasing the number of robberies.
Akers was thankful that there were no serious injuries during the incidents and expressed pride in the detectives’ professional conduct.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno praised the police officers and the sheriff’s department for their efforts, which brought an end to a crime spree that began in April.
Sarno called for the courts to hold the suspects accountable for the grave dangers they posed to the community.
The detective bureau has been investigating the armed robberies at local package and convenience stores that have taken place since April, occurring between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. At least 14 similar robberies were reported over five months in Springfield, with additional incidents in neighboring cities.
On the night of the arrests, detectives observed four suspects who appeared to be preparing for another robbery near the Valero Gas Station on Allen Street.
The officers moved in and detained 22-year-old Javahn Resto, 29-year-old Carlos Resto Jr., 33-year-old Malwin Feliciano, and a 17-year-old male.
A Ghost Gun with a fully automatic sear selector switch and a loaded large capacity handgun were among the firearms recovered.
Further investigation led to the arrest of 48-year-old Carlos Resto Sr. and another 17-year-old male after a search warrant was executed at a home on Dearborn Street.
The search yielded additional firearms, heroin, cocaine, cash, and other contraband.
Charges against the suspects include multiple counts of firearm-armed and masked robbery, possession of machine guns and large capacity feeding devices, and carrying firearms without a license, among others.
The investigation is ongoing, conducted by the Springfield Police Detective Bureau in conjunction with the Hampden District Attorney’s Office.
