METHUEN, MA — A Lawrence man was arrested Monday after police found a ghost gun and marijuana during a traffic stop.
Jonathan Rivera, 42, of Lawrence, was charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license, receiving an untraceable firearm, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and a number plate violation.
A Methuen police officer on patrol in the Lowell Sector stopped a vehicle with an unreadable license plate after it departed from marked lanes of travel.
The officer detected a strong smell of marijuana from the vehicle and the operator, who admitted to having consumed marijuana earlier in the day.
A roadside field sobriety assessment led the officer to believe the operator was under the influence of drugs.
The passenger, Jacqueline Fabian, 40, of Lawrence, was asked to drive the vehicle away but her driver’s license was suspended and she had an active warrant for her arrest.
Both individuals were arrested and transported to the Methuen Police Department for booking.
Before the vehicle was towed, officers found a backpack containing a Glock-style firearm with a large capacity magazine.
The firearm had no serial number and is commonly referred to as a ghost gun.
Rivera admitted to owning the firearm, stating he bought it in Lowell.
Officers also found a significant amount of marijuana and associated paraphernalia.
Fabian was arrested on the outstanding warrant but was not charged with any additional crimes.
