A man being arrested on drug and weapons charges by Massachusetts State Police made an unusual declaration as he was being led to a cruiser in handcuffs on Tuesday.
"Baby I'm going to jail!" 33-year-old Jonathan Casiano of Springfield allegedly shouted as he was moved by state police troopers. Police later observed that one of the cell phones in Casiano's car had an open line with a connection to a woman he had been speaking with.
Casiano was pulled over by members of the state police Gang Unit in Springfield around 6 p.m. after troopers observed him texting while driving and recognized his BMW sedan as one known for frequenting the area in connection with drug crimes.
Casiano initially ignored commands to exit his car, and when he did get out, police said he twice tried to re-enter his vehicle. That led troopers to put him in handcuffs as they continued their investigation.
While searching the car, state police said they found small baggies consistent with how heroin is packaged and a large amount of cash. They also located a black semi-automatic handgun on the floor near the driver's seat. The gun had a high-capacity magazine loaded with 15 9mm rounds and had no markings or serial number, consistent with what is referred to as a "Ghost Gun." These firearms cannot be traced and are illegal.
In addition to the gun and the ammunition, police seized 74 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine, 810 individual dose baggies of heroin, 486 Oxycodone pills, 67 Gabapentin tablets, two grams of methamphetamine, three Adderall tablets, $9,880 in cash, two electronic scales with powder residue on them, materials consistent with the packaging of drugs and three cell phones.
Casiano is now facing nine charges, including unlawful carrying of a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession of a high-capacity magazine, committing a firearm offense while having three prior drug offenses, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony, trafficking in a Class A substance (Oxycodone), trafficing a Class B substance (cocaine/crack cocaine), possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute (heroin) and possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute (methamphetamine). He was also cited for texting while driving.
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Bail was set at $50,000 cash, and Casiano was taken to the Hampden County House of Correction to be held pending arraignment in Springfield District Court.
