SPRINGFIELD — Police arrested three individuals and recovered an illegal firearm on Thursday, May 29, following a crash involving a stolen vehicle and a Springfield police cruiser, according to a statement from the Springfield Police Department.
At approximately 11:05 a.m., officers under the direction of Lieutenant Brian Elliott observed a stolen vehicle on Genesee Street. They later attempted a traffic stop on Albany Street. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Zachary Hardy of Gardner, attempted to flee and collided with a cruiser before coming to a stop.
Hardy and two passengers—identified as 18-year-old Teyvaun Williams-Santiago of West Springfield and a 16-year-old juvenile male—were taken into custody. Officers found an unloaded firearm capable of holding 15 rounds of ammunition inside Hardy’s crossbody bag.
Photo courtesy of the Springfield Police Department
The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Worcester.
Hardy was charged with the following:
- Receiving a stolen motor vehicle
- Failure to stop for police
- Operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license
- Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon
- Carrying an unloaded large capacity firearm on a public way
- Reckless operation of a motor vehicle
Williams-Santiago was charged with:
- Receiving a stolen motor vehicle
Due to his age, the juvenile suspect’s name, charges, and photo were not released, the Springfield Police Department said.
No injuries were reported in the crash.