50-year-old Taunton man charged after police recover stolen loaded firearm

A Bristol County man is facing several charges after police recovered a loaded gun.

According to police, at just before 8:15 p.m., on Thursday, officers assigned to District C-6 (South Boston) arrested Howard McCoy, 50, of Taunton, on firearm charges.

An officer was on patrol in the area of Columbia Road when he observed a motor vehicle commit a marked lane violation. The officer activated his marked cruiser’s emergency lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop.

The officer was able to stop the vehicle in the area of Dorchester Street and Old Colony Avenue. The officer conducted an inquiry of the vehicle’s registration, which revealed that it was revoked. The officer advised the operator that the vehicle would need to be towed, and he needed to exit the vehicle.

The officer conducted a motor vehicle inventory search, and recovered a firearm from inside the vehicle. The firearm was later determined to be a Smith & Wesson MP9 with one round in the chamber and eight rounds in the magazine. The firearm was also determined to be stolen.

McCoy was placed under arrest and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Improper Storage of a Firearm, Receiving Stolen Property, and Possession of Class E. He is expected to be arraigned in South Boston District Court.