Drug and gun possession charges against two men after Chicopee police stopped a car where a shooting is suspected

CHICOPEE – A traffic stop of a car believed to be involved in a recent shooting led to the arrest of two Springfield men on drug and weapons charges, including one with a criminal history.

Arrested Nov. 7 were Osvaldo Hernandez, 35, of Springfield, who faces drug trafficking and motor vehicle trafficking charges, and Jorge Lopez, 37, of Springfield, who is a repeat offender charged with firearms offenses and trafficking.

Detectives had been monitoring traffic on Chicopee Street that day. When officers spotted the suspected car from a previous shooting and knew the registered owner did not have a driver’s license, they stopped the vehicle.

The driver, Hernandez, was arrested for driving without a license. Three passengers also lacked driver’s licenses, police said.

Investigators removed the passengers one by one, checking each for weapons because there had been previous shooting. Two of the three obeyed, but Lopez did not, police said.

He then attempted to jump into the driver’s seat and drive away, simultaneously reaching for his waistband. Investigators stopped him and found a loaded gun on his hip.

When officers prepared the car for towing, they also found a bag of drugs inside.

In addition to the charge of driving without a license, Hernandez was also charged with trafficking 36 to 100 grams of cocaine and possession of a Class A drug.

Lopez was charged with possession of a large capacity firearm; carrying a firearm without a license, second offense; possession of ammunition without firearm markings; possession of a firearm with an illegible or missing serial number; trafficking in more than 10 grams of fentanyl; possession of a Class B drug, subsequent offence; a firearms violation with three prior violent/drug crimes; three counts of resisting arrest; kidnapping with a weapon; Intimidation of a witness/jury/police/court officer; and assault with a dangerous weapon.