Police had been conducting surveillance of Byers Street early Monday morning when they moved in to arrest two drug suspects, who led officers on a brief foot pursuit. Police said they recovered a fully loaded .40-caliber handgun, around $1,500 cash and an unspecified amount of drugs.
SPRINGFIELD -- When undercover police officers moved in to arrest a pair of alleged drug dealers working from a Byers Street address early Monday, the duo led authorities on a brief foot chase before they were quickly captured and handcuffed, according to Springfield Police Capt. Cheryl C. Clapprood.
The suspects were carrying drugs, a large wad of cash and a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm semiautomatic handgun, Clapprood said, praising the plainclothes and uniformed officers who made the arrests.
"They took a fully loaded .40-caliber gun off the street," she said. "They got both of them without anybody getting injured."
Undercover officers working an anti-gang detail had been conducting surveillance of Byers Street, which is located across from police headquarters on Pearl Street, when they moved in to arrest the suspects.
Springfield residents Daniel Caldwell, 20, and Michael Harris, 33, are expected to be arraigned on drug and weapons charges on Tuesday in Springfield District Court, according to police.
Caldwell's charges include illegal possession of ammunition and a handgun with a defaced serial number, among others. Harris faces several drug charges including possession with intent to sell crack cocaine and marijuana and resisting arrest.
Clapprood said Caldwell was carrying the gun while Harris was holding around $1,500 cash.
Byers Street, despite its proximity to the police station, is a known trouble spot.
"We've had a problem there on Byerst Street," Clapprood said.