SPRINGFIELD — Eight suspects were arrested and four illegal firearms were seized during a police operation Wednesday at approximately 5:35 p.m., according to Springfield police officials.
Members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU), Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, Massachusetts State Police VFAS, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force conducted the operation on Pasadena Street.
Among those arrested was Jahiem Sutherland, 21, who has a prior firearms conviction and two open firearms cases.
Authorities said Sutherland was wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet at the time of his arrest, which he had removed.
According to police, Sutherland has accumulated 43 adult arraignments, including 25 firearms charges.
The investigation began when detectives were monitoring Sutherland for suspected illegal firearms possession and drug distribution from an apartment on the 0-100 block of Pasadena Street.
Detectives observed Nathan Dolan conduct what appeared to be a drug transaction at the residence before stopping him on Kensington Avenue, where they recovered more than 4 grams of crack-cocaine.
After obtaining a search warrant, officers spotted Sutherland leaving the home around 5:30 p.m.
When detectives attempted to arrest Sutherland on the 400 block of Central Street, he fled on foot and discarded a loaded semi-automatic firearm under a car before being apprehended.
During the pursuit, a Massachusetts State Police Trooper suffered a head injury requiring stitches and was diagnosed with a concussion.
Executing the search warrant at the Pasadena Street apartment, detectives arrested six additional individuals and seized more than 210 bags of heroin, over 23 grams of crack-cocaine, three illegal firearms including a ghost gun, and multiple firearm magazines.
Jonathan Ramos, 36, faces multiple firearms charges after police connected him to a ghost gun loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition and another large-capacity firearm.
Additional suspects arrested include Javier Rivera, 49; Casey Boire, 40; Josue Claudio, 46; Tara Johnson, 29; Ali Ayala, 24; and Nathan Dolan, 36.
