SPRINGFIELD — A routine traffic stop early Sunday morning led to the arrest of four Connecticut men after Springfield police discovered a loaded firearm and various drugs in their vehicle.
At around 2:10 a.m., officers from the Springfield Police C-3 North End Unit, guided by Lt.
Julio Toledo, pulled over a car with an expired registration on the 1600 block of Main Street.
The driver, Rufus Howell, and his three passengers complied with the stop.
Police noticed an open alcohol container inside the vehicle, prompting a thorough search.
The car, which was neither registered nor insured, was towed.
During the search, officers found bags of marijuana, crack-cocaine, and a loaded firearm.
An additional search of the individuals revealed powdered cocaine on one of the occupants, Daniel Thomas.
Howell, 46, of Simsbury; Thomas, 43, of Hartford; Travis Harris, 31, of Hartford; and Malcolm Foster, 35, also of Hartford, were arrested and face multiple charges.
Howell’s charges include carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, intent to distribute Class B and Class D drugs, and other related offenses.
Thomas faces similar charges with an additional count for intent to distribute a Class B drug.
Harris and Foster are both charged with carrying a firearm without a license, intent to distribute Class B and Class D drugs, among other charges.
The suspects were taken into custody without incident and are expected to face charges in court.
The Springfield Police Department continues to investigate the incident.
