SPRINGFIELD — Police officers in Springfield arrested two individuals and seized a loaded machine gun along with marijuana following a traffic stop on the night of April 19.
The incident occurred shortly after 8:15 p.m. when an officer spotted a driver, identified as Randy Perez-Coiscou, 21, running a stop sign at the intersection of Adams Street and Dwight Street Extension.
After initiating a traffic stop on the 0-100 block of Adams Street, the officer noticed a strong smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle and observed quantities of the substance in excess of the legal limit.
Perez-Coiscou and the passenger, 19-year-old Maryah Melendez, were both detained as additional officers arrived on the scene.
A search of the car led to the discovery of marijuana, THC cartridges, and an illegal firearm equipped with a sear-selector, also known as a Glock switch, which converts it into a fully automatic machine gun.
Authorities confirmed the firearm was loaded with nine rounds of ammunition.
Both Perez-Coiscou and Melendez were arrested and face multiple charges, including possession of a loaded machine gun, carrying a firearm without a license, possession with the intent to distribute a Class D drug, and other related offenses.
The Springfield Police Department continues to investigate the case.
