Fall River driver stopped, Taunton juvenile arrested as police seize loaded ghost gun

Police in Massachusetts charged a male Taunton juvenile with illegal possession of a firearm as a result of an investigation that stemmed from a motor vehicle stop.

According to Chief Christopher Delmonte, on Monday just before 10:30 p.m., Officer John F. Pestana Jr. stopped a vehicle in the area of 785 Bedford Street in Bridgewater, as a result of motor vehicle infractions. The vehicle was not properly registered or insured.

While conducting the motor vehicle stop, Officer Pestana noticed the vehicle occupants — a driver and a passenger — making suspicious movements toward the vehicle’s center console. As a result of those movements, Officer Pestana and other officers who arrived as backup ordered both men out of the vehicle.

A subsequent search of the vehicle and its occupants revealed a large black handgun that was tucked into the 16-year-old’s waistband. It was discovered when Proactive Enforcement Officer James Doherty patted down the juvenile. The handgun had no labels, etchings or insignia designating the gun as a specific brand. Such so-called “ghost guns” are impossible to trace as a result. Police also found the lower receiver portion of a second firearm in the vehicle.

So-called “ghost guns” come from kits that can purchased online and then assembled at home. Guns made from the kits do not have serial numbers, making them impossible for law enforcement to trace. Once assembled, a firearm needs to be registered and have a serial number stamped on it in order for it to be possessed legally by a legally authorized owner.

The driver of the vehicle, a 20-year-old male from Fall River, will be summonsed to court to face charges of operating an unregistered motor vehicle and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

The juvenile was arraigned in Plymouth County Juvenile Court on Possession of a Firearm without a License and Possession of Ammunition without an FID charges. The 20-year-old will be summonsed to Brockton District Court at a later date.