License plate violation leads to list of gun and taser charges

One weapon was from the 21st century. The other was from the 19th. Both carried illegally.

According to Massachusetts State Police, shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 18, Trooper Willie Burnett, a recent graduate of the 86th Recruit Training Troop, was on patrol with his field training officer Trooper Michael Lyons on West Main Street in West Brookfield. Trooper Burnett observed a blue Mazda SUV with a registration plate cover that made the vehicle’s tags unreadable. Trooper Burnett then turned on his cruiser’s blue lights to conduct a motor vehicle stop. The two Troopers made contact with the driver of the SUV and identified him through a Florida driver’s license as Drake Decker, 32, of West Brookfield.

As Trooper Lyons engaged Decker in conversation Trooper Burnett was able to see, in plain view, the grip of a firearm, unsecured on the rear floorboards of the vehicle. Troopers discovered through speaking with Decker that he did not have a license to carry a firearm and was also in possession of an electronic control weapon. The two Troopers asked Decker to step out of the vehicle, and he was placed into handcuffs.

After removing him from the vehicle, Troopers located the electronic control weapon on Decker’s person. The Troopers then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle which revealed the grip in the rear seat belonged to a 1841 Fillipetta firearm. Decker was placed under arrest and transported to the Brookfield Barracks to be booked, photographed and fingerprinted. Decker was arraigned at East Brookfield District Court on the charges of Possession Of A Firearm, Carrying a Dangerous Weapon, Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Improper Storage Of A Firearm, Possession of Ammo Without FID Card, Possession Of An Electronic Control Weapon, Carrying An Electronic Control Weapon, Improper Storage Of An Electronic Control Weapon, and Number Plate Violation.