4 Vermont Residents Facing Weapons Charges Following Swansea Traffic Stop
SWANSEA (CBS) -- Four Vermont residents are facing weapons charges after a Swansea traffic stop on Friday night.
A police officer responded to a medical call that night when he saw a gray Dodge speeding on Cedar Avenue, according to a police statement on the Town of Swansea website.
Another officer also saw the same vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 103 travelling east, police say. The officer pulled the vehicle over in the area of New Gardners Neck Road.
A driver of another vehicle called police to tell them the driver of vehicle pulled over had thrown a bottle at their vehicle, causing damage and they attempted to follow it but it was traveling too fast and erratically, police said.
Officers allegedly saw a disabled front-seat passenger with an open liquor bottle, while the driver appeared to be nervous. After having the driver step out of the vehicle, they found a loaded .45 caliber handgun magazine in the driver's pocket, investigators say.
Police say a pair of loaded handguns found under the driver's seat in the area where he had been reaching.
Investigators said they found several weapons during a search of the vehicle, including loaded handgun magazines, pepper spray, survival knives that were hanging from the seat, nun-chucks, modified brass knuckes, body armor, handcuffs and hand cuff keys.
The occupants were allegedly heading to visit a friend in Fall River. Three of the four were arrested and charged, while the disabled passenger will be summonsed on charges including possession of a dangerous weapon, malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct.
The driver, 30-year-old Eric Poland of Milton, was charged with multiple firearm possession charges, possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of large capacity feeding device, malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct. He was additional charged with operating negligently.
Jon Lamoy, 31, of Milton has been charged with several firearm possession charges, possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of large capacity feeding device, malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct.
Charles Livingston, 61, of Winsooki, is facing multiple firearm possession charges, possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of a large capacity feeding device, malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct.
The trio charged were taken to New Bedford jail, where they are being held on $25,000 cash bail.
It's unclear when they will appear in court.