Troopers Bust Young Pair Following Fall River Traffic Stop
A young man and woman -- apparently, the same duo involved in a Route 24 crash and contraband arrest back in January -- are held on high bail following a Fall River traffic stop that led to their new arrests on gun and drug charges.
Tuesday around 5 p.m., a trooper assigned to the Troop D Community Action Team was patrolling on South Main Street when he saw a Chevrolet Traverse with heavily tinted windows, according to a release from Massachusetts State Police. The trooper stopped the vehicle approaching Columbia Street.
The operator, identified as 21-year-old Savon Gonsalves of Fall River, allegedly volunteered to the trooper that his license was suspended. Other CAT members arrived to assist, and Gonsalves was removed from the vehicle. Troopers say they observed "numerous indications that (Gonsalves) may have recently taken part in the sale of illegal narcotics." Troopers also removed the passenger, identified as 20-year-old Serena Silva of Brockton, from the vehicle.
After conducting a search, troopers say they found 15 grams of suspected fentanyl and 50 grams of suspected cocaine. They say they located a loaded .45 caliber Springfield Armory pistol which an electronic inquiry showed to be stolen. It's alleged that neither possessed a license to carry firearms. Both parties were placed under arrest.
Gonsalves and Silva were booked at state police barracks in Dartmouth and a bail commissioner set bail at $100,000 for both. They were transported to Bristol County House of Correction awaiting arraignment at Fall River District Court.
In late January Gonsalves and Silva were arrested in Taunton following a crash on Route 24 that led to their arrests on drug and gun charges. That incident involved a Nissan SUV, a .40 caliber Glock, and "multiple knotted plastic baggies containing a substance believed to be fentanyl," police said at the time.
The pair now face the following charges:
SAVON GONSALVES:
- Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License;
- Improper Storage of a Firearm;
- Possession of a Firearm;
- Possession of a Firearm without FID Card;
- Carrying a Loaded Firearm;
- Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony;
- Possession of Ammunition without FID Card;
- Trafficking in Cocaine;
- Trafficking in Fentanyl;
- Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law;
- Conspiracy;
- Firearm Violation with Prior Violent/Drug Crime; and
- Receiving Stolen Property under $1200.
SERENA SILVA:
- Improper Storage of a Firearm;
- Possession of a Firearm;
- Possession of a Firearm without FID Card;
- Carrying a Loaded Firearm;
- Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony;
- Possession of Ammunition without FID Card;
- Trafficking in Cocaine;
- Trafficking in Fentanyl;
- Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law;
- Conspiracy;
- Firearm Violation with Prior Violent/Drug Crime; and
- Receiving Stolen Property under $1200.