MSP arrest three drivers on Route 24, one of which was clocked at a speed of 120 mph

In a three week period beginning March 28, Troopers assigned to the Midnight Shift at State Police-Middleboro removed four illegally possessed firearms from separate traffic stops resulting in the arrest of three men and a court summons to a fourth.

According to Massachusetts State Police, shortly after 6 a.m. on March 28 a Trooper responded to 911 calls of an erratic vehicle on Route 24 southbound in the Taunton area. The Trooper took up a strategic position and waited for the vehicle to approach her location. She was able to observe the vehicle then immediately entered traffic and initiated a motor vehicle stop. Upon the vehicle coming to a full stop the Trooper approached it and identified the operator as Carlos Silva, 40, of Newport, R.I. The Trooper informed Silva why he was stopped then began to notice signs of impairment and suspected Silva to be under the influence of alcohol. After a subsequent investigation on scene, the Trooper searched the vehicle and located a loaded revolver in the center console. Silva does not possess a license to carry firearms, according to police, and was placed under arrest and then transported to the barracks for booking. He was scheduled for arraignment at Fall River District Court on Possession of a Firearm, Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Possession of Ammunition without FID, Operating Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor, Possession of a Class D Substance with Intent to Distribute, Negligent Operation of a Vehicle, Speeding, and Marked Lanes Violation.

On April 10 at approximately 2:20 a.m. a Trooper was patrolling Route 495 northbound in Middleboro when he observed a vehicle traveling much higher than the posted speed limit of 65 miles per hour. The Trooper was able to clock the vehicle at 120 mph then activated his blue lights and initiated a motor vehicle stop. The Trooper approached the vehicle and identified the operator as a 21-year-old man from Assonet. While speaking to him, the Trooper noticed he was distraught and requested an ambulance to respond to the scene. The operator was eventually transported to an area hospital for treatment at which point a tow truck was dispatched to remove the vehicle from the scene. During the pre-tow vehicle inventory, the Trooper located a pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition. The pistol was not marked with any serial numbers. The Trooper responded to the hospital to continue his investigation and confirmed the operator did not possess a license to carry firearms. He was eventually issued a criminal summons. He will be scheduled for arraignment at Wareham District Court on Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, and Possession of Ammunition without FID Card.

Just after midnight on April 13 a Trooper observed a speeding vehicle on Route 24 southbound in Bridgewater. While clocking the vehicle’s speed, she observed it cross over a lane marking at which point she activated her cruiser’s emergency lights and initiated a motor vehicle stop. After the vehicle came to a full stop, she informed the operator, identified as Kerry Lorquet, 34, of Taunton, why he was stopped and began an investigation. She observed numerous indications of possible firearms and narcotics in the vehicle leading to an eventual search of the immediate area where Lorquet was seated. During the search Troopers located a plastic baggy containing a substance suspected to be Heroin. She also located a small digital scale and a butterfly knife. These items led to a full search of the vehicle after which Troopers located a loaded revolver. Lorquet does not possess a license to carry firearms, according to police. He was placed under arrest and transported to the barracks for booking. He was scheduled for arraignment at Brockton District Court on Carrying a Dangerous Weapon 2nd Offense, Possession of a Firearm, Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Possession of a Firearm with 3 Prior Violent/Drug Crimes, Possession of a Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute Subsequent Offense, Possession of a Class A Substance, Possession of a Class D Substance with Intent to Distribute Subsequent Offense, Disorderly Conduct, Speeding, and Marked Lanes Violation.

Finally, just before 3 a.m. on April 18 a Trooper observed a vehicle traveling at speeds over 100 miles per hour on Route 24 southbound in Brockton. She immediately activated her cruiser’s emergency lights and initiated a motor vehicle stop. Upon the vehicle coming to a full stop, she approached it and identified the operator as Luis Alves, 34, of Brockton. The Trooper observed signs of impairment on Alves and also noticed an open beer bottle half spilled on the floor of the vehicle. The Trooper removed Alves from the vehicle and conducted a pat-frisk prior to beginning field sobriety testing. She immediately felt what she recognized as a firearm in his pocket. Alves does not possess a license to carry firearms, according to police, and was placed under arrest. After conducting a search of his vehicle Troopers located multiple baggies containing a substance suspected to be Cocaine. Alves was transported to the barracks for booking. He was scheduled for arraignment at Brockton District Court on Operating Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor and Drugs, Possession of a Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute, Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Possession of Ammunition without FID Card, Open Container of Alcohol in Vehicle, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Speeding, and Marked Lanes Violation.