SPRINGFIELD, MA — Police arrested two suspects and seized an illegal firearm Sunday near the intersection of Mill Street and Locust Street.
Officers observed an unregistered scooter in the area around 4:30 p.m. and conducted a traffic stop while the scooter was stopped.
The passenger, later identified as Roberto Mercado, began running away.
As he attempted to flee, a firearm fell out of his pant leg.
Officers recovered the firearm and continued the foot pursuit.
An unidentified civilian assisted by grabbing Mercado, allowing officers to take him into custody.
The firearm was loaded and had a defaced serial number.
The scooter was unregistered and uninsured, and the rider, later identified as Luis Flores-Rivera, did not have a license to operate it.
Officers placed Flores-Rivera under arrest.
Flores-Rivera also has open firearms charges from a March arrest.
Roberto Mercado, 22, of Holyoke is charged with carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number and resisting arrest.
Luis Flores-Rivera, 19, of Springfield is charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with attached plates, defective equipment and a motorcycle equipment violation.
