Drug Suspect Crushes Fast Food, Furthering Trooper's Suspicion

SPRINGFIELD, MA — Police arrested a man they said was driving with drugs and a gun after what appeared to be a stop at the dollar menu.

Police pulled a Ford F-150 driving down the middle of the a Springfield road around 1:10 a.m. Friday. The car had ben driving 5-10 miles per hour, straddling the lines between lanes and swerving.

Inside the smoke-filled car was Ivan Marrero, 35, of Springfield. When he put his window down, "a large cloud of smoke and an overwhelming odor of burnt marijuana billowed out," State Police said in a press release.

The Trooper said Marrero ate two McDonald's cheeseburgers and several handfuls of french fries during a two- or three-minute conversation. The Trooper said he believed Marrero was trying to conceal smells that had been on his breath.

The Trooper noticed a burning blunt in the cup holder and had Marrero run a sobriety test. He was then arrested.

Police said they found a loaded Glock 26 handgun with 17 9mm bullets; Marrero had no license to carry and was supposed to surrender any guns due to two active restraining orders.

Police also found several bags of what is believed to be crack cocaine and nine bundles wax paper with what is believed to be heroin.

Marrero was charged with operating under the influence of drugs, possession of a class a drug with intent to distribute (second offenses,) possession of a class a drug with intent to distribute (second offenses,) negligent operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony, unlawful possession/carrying of a firearm (third offense,) firearm violation by a person who has committed three prior violent/drug crimes, violation of a firearm surrender order, unlawful possession of ammunition and a marked lanes violation.

Bail was set at $20,000. Marrero was arraigned Friday at Springfield District Court.