MANCHESTER, CT — Two Manchester men were arrested early Sunday morning after police discovered three loaded firearms during a traffic stop.
A Manchester police officer on routine patrol initiated a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation at approximately 3:13 a.m. in the area of 84 West Middle Turnpike.
The driver was identified as Kevin Archer Jr., 19, of Manchester, and the passenger was identified as Xavier Rodriguez, 18, of Manchester.
During the traffic stop, officers located a loaded firearm in Archer’s waistband and a second loaded firearm under the driver’s seat.
A third loaded firearm was found inside Rodriguez’s backpack.
All three firearms were equipped with illegal high-capacity extended magazines containing 24 rounds, 20 rounds and 16 rounds, respectively.
One of the firearms was fitted with a fully automatic modification switch, allowing it to fire as a machine gun.
Archer was charged with improper turn, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle (2 counts), carrying a pistol without a permit (2 counts), illegal possession of a large capacity magazine (2 counts) and failure to register a machine gun.
Rodriguez was charged with illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit and illegal possession of a large capacity magazine.
Both men were held on $500,000 bond and are scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court on Monday.
