By abc40 Staff
HOLYOKE, Mass. (abc40) - Holyoke police have arrested three men and confiscated a 12-guage shotgun, .357 caliber handgun and crack cocaine following report of shots being fired on Beech Street Wednesday night.
Luis Angel Contreras, 20, of 126 Center St., Jose A. Beltran, 23, of 173 Elm St., and Felix Miguel Rodriguez, 19, of 95 Beech St., were all arrested in the parking lot of Shaw's Automotive on Suffolk Street on disorderly conduct and firearms charges shortly after 8 p.m., according to police. In a release issued after the arrests, Holyoke Police Chief Anthony Scott praised the bravery and quick response of his officers leading up to the arrest of the men, while also criticizing the judicial system.
"Once again Holyoke Police Officers risked their lives to protect the citizens of this community. While everyone else was running away from the shots fired these officers were running towards it. I commend each and every one of them for their bravery, dedication to duty and quick response. The career criminals these officers risked their lives to arrest have ridden the Hampden County Merry-Go-Round of Justice over 27 times and some of these rides involved violent crime. However they are still out walking the streets with law abiding tax paying citizens. We have our judiciary to thank for this," states Scott in the release.
According to police, an officer heading to provide backup to another officer investigating the report of shots being fired on Beech Street allegedly observed the three men on Dwight Street and learned they may have been involved in the shooting. The same officer turned around to find them and allegedly observed the men again in an alley way and they began to run when followed, according to police.
Police were able to apprehend the men in the parking lot on Suffolk Street and allegedly found a shotgun shell in one of their pockets, as well as a handgun in the rear of a truck parked on the lot and a shotgun hidden in a nearby trashcan.
Rodriguez was ordered held on $20,000 cash bail, Contreras was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail and Beltran was ordered held on $5,000 cash bail, according to police.
