SPRINGFIELD — A late-night encounter led Springfield police to arrest 19-year-old Noel Martinez after seizing a loaded large-capacity firearm on Sunday.
At around 9:35 p.m., members of the Springfield Police C3 Unit and Squad “C” officers were patrolling near the South End Community Center on Marble Street.
They spotted a vehicle with three occupants in the parking lot, which was closed at the time.
Upon approaching the vehicle to address a trespassing violation, officers noticed Martinez, seated in the front passenger seat, handling a fanny pack.
Commonly used to conceal weapons, the pack drew the officers’ attention.
Martinez attempted to leave the scene on foot, still clutching the fanny pack.
He then ran, striking an officer in the chest.
During the scuffle, Martinez dropped the fanny pack, which was found to contain a loaded firearm.
Backup officers arrived as Martinez continued his attempt to escape.
They apprehended him on the 0-100 block of Marble Street.
Martinez, a Springfield resident, faces multiple charges including carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of a high-capacity magazine/feeding device, possession of ammunition without an FID card, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, and trespassing.
