SPRINGFIELD, MA — Police arrested a man on multiple charges including firearm-armed kidnapping after seizing three illegal firearms in two separate incidents.
Steven Santiago, 36, of Springfield, was arrested at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Oct. 31 on the 0-100 block of Taylor Street by members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit.
Springfield Police Special Victims Unit Detectives began investigating Santiago for suspected domestic violence on Oct. 30.
On Oct. 31, detectives received information about Santiago being involved in a firearm-armed kidnapping involving two different victims.
Detectives were also aware that Santiago had an active warrant on unrelated charges.
Members of the Springfield Police Emergency Services Unit and FIU Detectives attempted to locate Santiago at different locations in the city on Friday afternoon.
Around 8 p.m., FIU Detectives located Santiago on Taylor Street and recovered a loaded firearm and loose ammunition.
Santiago violently resisted as detectives attempted to take him into custody, biting one detective, attempting to bite another detective and breaking part of a cruiser’s door during the arrest, police said.
Santiago admitted he was on PCP, according to police.
On Nov. 1, FIU Detectives received information about Santiago having additional firearms in a storage unit in the North End of the city.
Detectives received permission to access the storage unit and located two loaded firearms, one of which was a large capacity firearm.
Detectives also seized three large-capacity firearm magazines capable of holding 11, 12 and 31 rounds respectively.
Santiago is charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, firearm violation with three prior violent/drug crimes, firearm-armed kidnapping, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, assault and battery on a family/household member – subsequent offense, assault and battery on a knowingly pregnant female, stalking, assault with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, assault and battery on a police officer, threat to commit a crime (two counts), assault, receiving stolen property less than $1,200 and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.
Santiago also had an active arrest warrant for reckless operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, threat to commit a crime, witness intimidation, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, assault with a dangerous weapon and speeding.
Additional charges have been requested after the firearms were seized from the storage unit, including carrying a firearm without a license (two counts), carrying a loaded firearm without a license (two counts), possession of a high-capacity magazine/feeding device (three counts), convicted felon in possession of a firearm and firearm violation with three prior violent/drug crimes.
Santiago was arraigned Tuesday and held without the right to bail pending a dangerousness hearing.
