Taunton motor vehicle stop leads to arrest of Fall River man

A motor vehicle stop on County Road in Taunton last night led to the arrest of a Fall River man for illegally possessing a firearm.

According to Massachusetts State Police, at about 8:45 p.m., members of the Troop D Community Action team stopped a 2002 Toyota Avalon for motor vehicle violations. The vehicle was occupied by four men none of whom were wearing seat belts. As the troopers identified each occupant, the rear passenger, Kristian Cruz, 21, of Fall River exhibited nervous behavior. Cruz was slow to answer questions and kept touching a fanny pack strapped over his left shoulder. In fear the fanny pack may contain a weapon, troopers asked Cruz two times to hand it over. Inside the pack, a gray Taurus Millennium PT 145 .45 caliber handgun with a fully loaded magazine that contained ten rounds of hollow point ammunition, 1 high capacity feeding device that contained twelve rounds of .45 caliber ammunition and 1 small scale. CRUZ does not legally possess a license to carry a firearm in Massachusetts.

Cruz was placed under arrest and transported to State Police Middleboro barracks for booking on the following charges:

1. Possession of a Firearm;
2. Carry a Loaded Firearm;
3. Possession of a High Capacity Feeding Device;
4. Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card; and
5. Receiving Stolen Property.

A bail commissioner set bail at $2,540.00 for CRUZ, who was held at the Bristol County House of Correction pending his arraignment today in Taunton District Court.