Arrested were Jonathan Martinez, 20, of 873 Worthington St., Joel Quinones, 27, of 101 Mulberry St., and William A. Martinez, 20, of 19 St. James Ave.
From left to right: Jonathan Martinez, William Martinez, Joel QuinonesSPRINGFIELD – Narcotics officers arrested three men and seized two illegal handguns, more than a pound of marijuana and $5,000 cash during an arrest Wednesday on Belle Street, police said.
Narcotics officers under the command of Lt. Martin Ambrose interrupted a drug deal on the fire escape of an apartment building at 91 Belle Street, a dead-end street off Cass Street that runs parallel to Interstate 291 in the city’s Metro Center area, said police Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet.
Arrested were Jonathan Martinez, 20, of 873 Worthington St., Joel Quinones, 27, of 101 Mulberry St., and William A. Martinez, 20, of 19 St. James Ave.,
Officers moved in after they spotted Quinones and William Martinez make an exchange with Jonathan Martinez.
Jonathan Martinez was stopped and found in possession of a loaded semi-automatic handgun and an ounce of marijuana.
He was charged with possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card, resisting arrest and assault and battery with a police officer. He was also issued a citation for possession of marijuana.
When Quinones and Martinez were stopped, they were found with a backpack containing a handgun, a pound of marijuana and $5,000.
Quinones and William Martinez were each charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card, and breaking and entering while armed.
To escape police, they kicked in the door of a 4th floor apartment, Delaney said.
At their arraignments on Thursday in Springfield District Court, all three denied the charges against them.
Each was ordered held on $25,000 bail. Quinones and William Martinez are each due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on June 27. Jonathan Martinez is due in court on June 20 for a parole-violation hearing.
Jonathan Martinez and William Martinez are not related, Delaney said.
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