Police Find Loaded Gun During Traffic Stop: 3 Arrested

WORCESTER, MA—Three face charges of carrying a gun without a license, and one faces an extra charge of armed career criminal after a traffic stop over the weekend in the Main South area.

Officers patrolling the Main South area on Nov. 9 around 5:10 p.m. drove by the BP Gas Station at 30 Chandler St., a known problem area to officers. A Honda idled in the lot, the driver the only person inside. Shortly after, officers spotted a woman get into the front passenger seat, and a man get into the back.

The Honda headed onto Irving Street in the wrong direction, and officers pulled the car over. The driver gave a fake name to police and wouldn't show his license or registration, and the passenger in the back gave a name that couldn't be confirmed. According to police, he also moved around in a nervous manner. The man in the back seat started to film the officer with his cell phone, and the officer asked him to get the light out of his eyes, but he kept filming, said police.

Officers asked the three to get out of the car, and during a search of the vehicle found a loaded Sig Sauer 9320 9MM handgun.

The driver was eventually identified as Hai Le, 38, Lawrence Street. The front passenger was identified as Mariah Murphy, 22, Hill Road, Charlton and the rear passenger was identified as Fidel Joseph, 38, Paine Street.

All three were placed under arrest and charged with Unlawful Carrying a Firearm, Unlawful Carrying a Large Capacity Firearm, Unlawful Carrying of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, Possession of Ammunition of Ammunition without an FID Card and Improper Storage of a Firearm.

Le was also charged with being Armed Career Criminal.

All suspects were arraigned on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Worcester County District Courthouse.