Massachusetts State Police arrest Arkansas man after seizing four firearms, three large-capacity magazines

An Arkansas man was allegedly packing some serious heat while driving through Massachusetts.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, early Sunday morning, a Massachusetts State Trooper stopped a motorist from Arkansas in South Boston and found the man, who is not licensed to carry, in possession of four firearms and three large-capacity magazines, including a drum magazine holding 70 rounds.

The suspect, 20-year-old Tayvian Chamberlain of Bentonville, Arkansas, was driving a 2021 Dodge Durango SUV that was displaying an expired paper registration when a Trooper pulled him over on Day Boulevard near the Teacher’s Union building at 12:15 a.m.

The motorist had three young dogs in the car that he said he was transporting to buyers in Massachusetts and stated that he was armed for protection. He acknowledged having several firearms in the SUV, which he said he had purchased at a gun show in Arkansas. He acknowledged they were not registered to him, and that his home state does not require a license to carry.

Troopers removed Chamberlain from the vehicle and detained him. On the front seat Troopers located a Canix pistol with a magazine holding 18 9mm rounds. They also located a Glock 43 pistol with a magazine containing six 9mm rounds between the driver’s seat and the center console; a Glock 41 pistol with a magazine holding 13 .45 caliber rounds underneath the Glock 43; and in the same area; an AR pistol with the drum magazine, which held 70 rounds of .223 ammunition, on the floor in front of the front passenger seat. Troopers located an additional magazine holding six 9mm rounds in the center console, and additional loose rounds of various calibers throughout the vehicle, inside a bag near the spare tire in the trunk, and in the rear driver’s side door compartment.

Boston Animal Control took possession of the dogs – two Labrador Retrievers and an Italian Mastiff – and Troopers had the Durango towed.

Troopers transported Chamberlain to the State Police-South Boston Barracks, where he was booked on the charges of Unlawful possession of a firearm (four counts), Unlawful possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device (three counts), Improper storage of a large capacity firearm (three counts), Unlawful possession of ammunition, Improper storage of a firearm, and Driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

Troopers contacted a bail commissioner, who set bail at $20,000 cash plus the standard $40 fee. Chamberlain was unable to post bail and was held at the Barracks until Monday morning, when he was transported to South Boston District Court for arraignment.

Boston Animal Control tracked down the parties who had agreed to purchase the dogs, and the buyers had picked them up.