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The Springfield Police Department’s Narcotics Bureau launched an investigation into the distribution of crack-cocaine from a Bellmont Avenue apartment over the past few months.
During the investigation, police identified Joel Vasquez, who lived in the apartment, as a suspect.
On Tuesday, March 23, detectives surveilling the Bellmont Avenue apartment received a tip that the five men inside the building were in possession of firearms, prompting a call to the Springfield Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit (ESU) to execute the search warrant.
Police said that shortly after 4 p.m., members of the ESU and Narcotics Detectives executed the search warrant. Five individuals were detained during the search, three were eventually arrested, one will receive a criminal complaint, and the other individual was released.
During the search, detectives recovered a PA-15 assault rifle, similar to an AR-15, a second firearm with an obliterated serial number, 40 rounds of ammunition, three large-capacity magazines, approximately 21 grams of crack cocaine, and 352 bags of heroin.
Vazquez, Anthony Edwards and Joel Nieves-Cruz were arrested. The PA-15 assault rifle was reported stolen out of Vermont.
According to police, Vazquez was arrested in Holyoke in 2019 on two separate occasions for the possession of a firearm without an ID. He pleaded guilty and served nine months in jail for both of those convictions.
In October 2020, Springfield Police officers arrested Vazquez on drug distribution charges. That case remains open, but he was released on $500 bail.
Springfield Police Officers arrested Edwards on drug distribution charges in June 2020; he pleaded guilty last month and received an 18 month suspended sentence.
"Our Narcotics Unit continues to make our community safer by riding the streets of these dangerous weapons and large quantities of drugs while doing so in a professional manner," Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood said. "This type of Assault rifle in the wrong hands can lead to a tragic set of circumstances in mere seconds.
"Our officers continue to arrest the same individuals time and time again. It’s time for our judges and legislators to set foot in these neighborhoods that are plagued with drugs and the accompanying gun violence," she added. "Then maybe they will help our officers by taking action to make sure these dangerous individuals stay off the streets for a very long time."
Vasquez, 23, was charged with:
- Cocaine trafficking 18 grams or more;
- Possession of a large capacity firearm during the commission of a felony;
- Possession of a defaced firearm during the commission of a felony;
- Two counts of possession of a firearm without an FID card;
- Three counts of possession of a high capacity magazine/feeding device;
- Improper storage of a firearm;
- Improper storage of a large capacity firearm;
- Unlicensed possession of an assault weapon;
- Two counts of possession of ammunition without an FID card;
- Possession with intent to distribute heroin;
- Receiving stolen property less than $1,200;
- Two counts of possession of a firearm without an FID - subsequent offense.
Edwards, 27, was charged with;
- Cocaine trafficking 18 grams or more;
- Possession of a large capacity firearm during the commission of a felony;
- Possession of a firearm without an FID card;
- Possession of ammunition without an FID card;
- Three counts of possession of a high capacity magazine/feeding device;
- Improper storage of a large capacity firearm;
- Receiving stolen property less than $1,200;
- Possession with intent to distribute heroin;
- Unlicensed possession of an assault weapon;
- Firearm violation with one prior violent drug/crime.
Nieves-Cruz, 39, was charged with
- Cocaine trafficking 18 grams or more;
- Possession of a large capacity firearm during the commission of a felony;
- Possession of a firearm without an FID card;
- Possession of ammunition without an FID card;
- Three counts of possession of a high capacity magazine/feeding device;
- Improper storage of a large capacity firearm;
- Receiving stolen property less than $1,200;
- Possession with intent to distribute heroin;
- Unlicensed possession of an assault weapon.
"Unfortunately, our court system continues its 'revolving door' practices of allowing these gun-toting, poison dealing miscreants back on our streets and in our neighborhoods – just plain unacceptable, and my residents and business community do not deserve it or appreciate it," Springfield Mayor Domenic Spano said.
“I would suggest, that if they’re not going to be locked up, maybe some of these judges put out a welcome mat and invite these repeat violent criminal offenders into their neighborhoods – they might then think twice about letting them out again.”
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