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Troopers Arrest Man with Narcotics, Firearm


Shortly before 8 p.m. on January 2, Trooper Joshua Kopeski, assigned to the State Police Troop B Community Action Team, was patrolling Route 91 in Whately. At that time Trooper Kopeski conducted an electronic inquiry on a license plate affixed to a white Nissan SUV. The results of the inquiry revealed the license plates should have been affixed to a Saturn VUE. He then activated his cruiser’s blue lights and stopped the Nissan.

 

Upon the vehicle coming to a full stop, Trooper Kopeski approached it and identified the operator as MATHEW LOPEZ, 21, of Springfield. After confirming the vehicle was not properly registered, Trooper Kopeski informed LOPEZ the vehicle was going to be towed from the scene, then asked him to step out in order to conduct an inventory of its contents. While inventorying the trunk, Trooper Kopeski located a bag containing approximately 500 wax packets of a substance suspected to be Heroin. Trooper Kopeski was then joined by Trooper Jack Sarnacki, at which point LOPEZ was placed under arrest. Troopers then began a full search of the vehicle and located a Glock 19 pistol, loaded with a 15-round magazine. They also located an extended 30-round magazine. LOPEZ is not licensed to carry firearms.

 

LOPEZ was transported to the Northampton Barracks for booking. A bail commissioner was contacted and set bail at $25,000. LOPEZ was scheduled for arraignment at Greenfield District Court for the following charges:

 

  1. Trafficking in Fentanyl;

  2. Illegal Possession of a Firearm;

  3. Carrying a Loaded Firearm;

  4. Possession of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony;

  5. Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, four counts;

  6. Attaching Wrong Motor Vehicle Plates;

  7. Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle; and

  8. Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle.

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