By Tiffany Williams –
A Dudley man arrested after Auburn police found a handgun inside a damaged pickup truck was ordered held on bail Thursday in Worcester District Court, following an investigation that began with a reported hit-and-run.
Jonathan Berrios, 32, was arraigned Nov. 12 before Judge Michael P. Welsh on three charges: felony possession of a large-capacity feeding device, misdemeanor possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card and misdemeanor possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.
Welsh set bail at $15,000 surety or $1,500 cash. Court records show Berrios was ordered committed to the Worcester County House of Correction because he had not posted the required bail. He told the court he would retain private counsel.
A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. by video conference.
According to Auburn police, officers responded to Southbridge Street around 3:07 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, after a caller reported following a pickup truck involved in a hit-and-run. The court charge entries list the offense date as Nov. 12; the police account places the response a day earlier.
Investigators determined the crash occurred in Worcester and contacted Worcester police to investigate the collision.
The caller told responding Officers Lareau, Porcaro and Donahue that two men abandoned the significantly damaged truck and fled in opposite directions. The reported driver briefly returned and tried to re-enter the vehicle before running again when confronted by the caller, police said.
Inside the truck, officers found a Glock 17 handgun on the driver’s side floorboard and a 17-round magazine containing ammunition on the passenger’s side, according to police.
Minutes later, Sgt. McLaughlin located a man matching the reported driver’s description emerging from beside a nearby building. Officers identified him as Berrios and recovered 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition from his pocket.
Police said Berrios did not have an active Massachusetts firearms license. Investigators also learned the truck had recently been registered in his name.
Officer Ljunggren and K-9 Biza assisted with the search, while Officer Meyers provided aerial support with a drone. Starting at the truck’s driver’s door, Biza followed a trail to the parking lot where Berrios had been located, according to the department.
The response involved every on-duty Auburn officer and required three additional personnel to be called in from home, including the K-9 and drone operators.
Police said the investigation remains active and additional charges may follow for the passenger. The three charges listed against Berrios concern the firearm, ammunition and large-capacity magazine.