The men are both facing several felony chargest.
SPRINGFIELD - Two Springfield men were arrested Thursday evening after a high-speed pursuit through the city that involved police from at least two agencies, cocaine allegedly being thrown into residential neighborhoods and a child finding a pistol reportedly thrown from the suspects' car.
Bryan Ingram, 21, of 30 Gordon St., and Gregory Harris Jr., 30, of 100 Fernwold St., are both facing several felony charges relating to illegally possessing firearms and trafficking cocaine. Ingram, the driver, also faces additional traffic charges.
The pursuit began at about 6:20 p.m. Thursday as two Massachusetts State troopers in an unmarked car were driving behind a red Mitsubishi on King Street. A license plate check revealed the car's registration was suspended due to a lack of insurance, according to State Police spokesman David Procopio. As the car turned onto Logan Street, the troopers activated their lights and the Mitsubishi stopped.
"The troopers got out of the cruiser and approached the car from each side," Procopio said. "But as they neared the window, it accelerated away at a high rate of speed."
The troopers ran back to their car, broadcasting the description of the suspects along with the direction of travel before going after it themselves.
Procopio said Ingram was driving at least 45 miles per hour through several residential streets before finally traveling the wrong way on Manhattan Street. It was on that stretch of road where troopers said they saw Harris throw a plastic-wrapped package, which was later found to be crack cocaine, out the window. The troopers then saw Harris throw a metallic object, later found to be a gun, from the car near the Iglesia Oasis de Bendicion church.
"The suspects' car almost struck a second state police cruiser and then continued through more than a dozen residential streets," Procopio said.
Ingram finally stopped the car in front of 53 Lebanon St. in the city's Old Hill neighborhood where the duo exited the vehicle and ran down the driveway with state and city police in pursuit.
"Troopers saw Harris throw another plastic bag later determined to be cocaine in the driveway while Ingram tried to scale a six-foot picket fence out back of the house," Procopio said. "When Ingram saw a trooper on the other side of the fence, he jumped back down and ran with Harris up the back stairs of this house."
Procopio said that officers, some with weapons drawn, told the pair to stop but they refused. He said they were extra cautious because Harris is known for his gang affiliations and previous drug arrests.
Officers cornered Harris and Ingram inside the house, Procopio said, but the men were "swinging their arms and fighting the police" during the arrest.
"They were eventually subdued and taken into custody," Procopio said. "When Harris was put in the back of the cruiser, he continued yelling obscenities at police and the people on the street who had gathered to see what was happening."
After both men were in custody, police returned to the area on Manhattan Street where troopers had seen the items thrown from the vehicle. On the way, they received a call from a woman that said her 11-year-old grandson had found a handgun near the Iglesia Oasis de Bendicion church.
Officers recovered the loaded Taurus .38 special along with two bags of crack-cocaine found in the middle of Manhattan Street.
Ingram was charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of a class-B substance with the intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammo, possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm without a FID card, a drug violation near a school or park, driving without a license, driving an unregistered and uninsured car, failure to stop for police and resisting arrest.
Harris was charged with trafficking cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm without a license, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, committing a firearm violation with three prior violent or drug convictions and resisting arrest.
Both men were taken back to the Springfield barracks and held awaiting arraignment in Springfield District Court on Friday.