SPRINGFIELD — Springfield police arrested three suspects and seized three illegal firearms, trafficking amounts of heroin and cocaine, and nearly $25,000 in cash during a Wednesday investigation.
The Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit and Hampden County Sheriff’s Department conducted the operation under the direction of Lieutenant Jaime Bruno and Sergeant Evan Donermeyer.
Police had been investigating illegal heroin distribution from an apartment on the 0-100 block of Canon Circle for several weeks.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the home, targeting Jose Mendez-Collazo and Mariester Rivera as suspects.
During surveillance Wednesday, detectives observed Mendez-Collazo leave the Canon Circle area in a car and park on the 0-100 block of Mill Street.
A female entered the vehicle, and when she left, detectives detained both her and Mendez-Collazo.
Police identified the woman as Arianna Alvarado-Torres and recovered heroin from her and heroin and cocaine from Mendez-Collazo.
While waiting to execute the search warrant, detectives saw Rivera leave the Canon Circle area in a car.
Police conducted a traffic stop on the 500 block of Cooley Street and detained Rivera.
The search warrant execution at Canon Circle yielded more than 20 grams of cocaine, 32 grams of heroin packaged in 1,643 bags, ammunition and three loaded firearms.
One firearm was a rifle equipped with a 30-round magazine.
Police also seized nearly $25,000 in cash during the operation.
Jose Mendez-Collazo, 41, of Springfield faces charges including three counts each of possession of a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, heroin/fentanyl trafficking 18-36 grams, cocaine trafficking 18-36 grams, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Arianna Alvarado-Torres, 38, of Springfield is charged with possession of a class A drug and has a default warrant for receiving a stolen motor vehicle.
Mariester Rivera, 29, of Springfield faces the same firearm and drug trafficking charges as Mendez-Collazo, including three counts each of possession of a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.
