WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA — Police arrested a Springfield man and seized a stolen assault rifle following a brief foot chase on Baldwin Street.
Jayden Merced, 18, of Springfield, was taken into custody at approximately 6:25 p.m. Friday in the 100 block of Baldwin Street.
Members of the West Springfield Police Narcotics Unit and Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit conducted the operation after receiving information that Merced was in possession of a firearm.
Detectives were also aware that Merced had two active arrest warrants.
Officers located Merced and two other people in a vehicle on Baldwin Street.
When the three occupants exited the vehicle, detectives moved in to arrest Merced, who fled on foot.
Detectives apprehended Merced after a brief pursuit.
The two other occupants were detained and later released.
Inside the vehicle, detectives recovered a loaded AR-style assault rifle with a 30-round magazine.
The weapon had been reported stolen out of North Carolina.
Merced was booked at the West Springfield Police Department.
He is charged with possession of a firearm without an FID card, carrying a loaded large capacity firearm on a public way, possession of ammunition without an FID card, unlicensed possession of an assault weapon, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and two arrest warrants.
