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Trooper Samuel Watson was on patrol at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 2 in Worcester County, on Route 290 in Auburn, when he stopped the driver of a black Chevrolet who was traveling in two lanes, prompting a traffic stop, police said.
Watson took the information of the driver, George Richards, of Riverside, Rhode Island, and while he was returning to his police cruiser, police said that he spotted a weapon in the back of his car.
Police said that when Richards was probed about his license to carry firearms, it was determined he did not have one, and he was temporarily detained.
After confirming that Richards did not have a license to carry firearms Watson discovered Richards had two active warrants for his arrest in Massachusetts and he was placed in custody.
During the search of Richards’ vehicle, troopers found a total of four firearms, 177 rounds of ammunition, approximately $120,000 in cash, and two magazines able to hold 13 rounds of ammunition.
Richards, 51, was arrested and charged in Worcester District Court with:
- Four counts of illegal possession of a firearm;
- Two counts of possession of a large capacity feeding device;
- Possession of ammunition without FID card;
- Marked lane violations.
Richards is currently being held without bail. He is scheduled to later appear in Uxbridge District Court on the two active warrants.
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