SPRINGFIELD — Police arrested a 35-year-old man and seized a loaded large-capacity firearm early Sunday during an anti-drag racing operation at Riverfront Park.
Officers from the Springfield Police Department’s C3 Unit and Squad “C” were patrolling the 0-100 block of State Street around 2:35 a.m. Sept. 29 to deter illegal car meets and street racing.
They found several vehicles in a parking lot violating a city ordinance against trespassing in parks after dark.
As police dispersed the crowd, they discovered one driver, identified as Darrell Smith of Springfield, did not have a license.
While searching his vehicle before towing, officers found a loaded firearm capable of holding 12 rounds.
Smith faces charges including carrying a loaded large-capacity firearm without a license, possessing a firearm with a defaced serial number, operating a vehicle without a license, having an open alcohol container in a vehicle and violating the park trespassing ordinance.
