By Tiffany Williams –
SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. — A months-long investigation by the Southbridge Police Department culminated in the execution of a search warrant that investigators say led to the recovery of a handgun with a defaced serial number, ammunition and the arrests of three individuals, including two juveniles.
Southbridge police detectives and officers, assisted by the Massachusetts Environmental Police K-9 Unit, executed the search warrant Thursday, July 16, at a residence on Elm Street in Southbridge.
According to police, the Environmental Police K-9 alerted detectives to an area inside a bedroom during the search.
Investigators said officers recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a defaced serial number, making the firearm untraceable.
Police also recovered a box of 9mm ammunition from the residence.
Authorities took three individuals into custody at the scene. Those arrested included a 15-year-old juvenile, a 14-year-old juvenile and 18-year-old Chamik Mendez-Garcia.
Police said the 15-year-old juvenile was on house arrest at the time the search warrant was executed.
According to investigators, the juvenile had previously been placed on house arrest for being in possession of four firearms during an earlier incident.
As a result of the investigation, police charged the 15-year-old juvenile with possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, improper storage of a firearm and possession of ammunition without an FID card.
Chamik Mendez-Garcia, 18, of 143 Maywood Street, Apartment 2, Worcester, was charged with possession of a firearm without an FID card and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.
The 14-year-old juvenile was charged with possession of a firearm without an FID card and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.
Police said the 15-year-old juvenile was held without bail pending arraignment.
The 14-year-old juvenile and Mendez-Garcia were each held on $10,000 cash bail pending their arraignments.
The Southbridge Police Department said the investigation reflects the department’s continued efforts to proactively investigate violent crime and remove illegal firearms from the community.