NEW BEDFORD — A 27-year-old man was arrested Monday morning after officers discovered drugs and a loaded firearm inside his vehicle during a welfare check.
Officer Calob Jardin responded just after 5 a.m. Sept. 29 to Tarklin Hill Road and Lawrence Street for a report of a vehicle stopped in the roadway with an individual slumped over inside.
When Jardin arrived, he observed the vehicle running with the gear shift in drive.
The operator, identified as Igor Lima of Durfee Court, was awakened, and officers detected a strong odor of alcohol from the vehicle.
While retrieving Lima’s keys, Jardin observed a plastic bag of marijuana weighing 21.4 grams in the center console, along with a Glock 43X handgun loaded with 10 rounds in the chamber and nine additional rounds in the magazine.
Lima was removed from the vehicle and searched.
Officers recovered a bag of suspected cocaine weighing 5.7 grams, a dispensary-labeled bag of marijuana weighing 6.9 grams, and a digital scale.
Lima was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance, possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance, operating under the influence of liquor, and carrying a firearm while intoxicated.
