Man on probation arrested in Springfield after ghost gun, drugs found in backpack

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – A Springfield man, whom police said was out on probation, has been arrested on gun and drug-related charges.

Springfield Police spokesperson Ryan Walsh said officers saw 21-year-old Darrell Coppedge of Springfield carrying a backpack on Locust Street Thursday afternoon with part of a gun visible. Coppedge then walked into a Mill Street parking lot and came back to the street without a backpack.

Investigators found the backpack, which reportedly contained crack-cocaine and cash, as well as a ghost gun with a sear-selector or Glock switch attached and a 50 round drum magazine.

Coppedge was then seen allegedly running in the woods near Acushnet Avenue and then was found hiding in some brush, where he was placed under arrest. Walsh noted that Coppedge was on probation at the time of his arrest and had previous firearms charges.

Coppedge is facing charges including carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded large capacity firearm on a public way, possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, improper storage of a large capacity firearm, and possession with the intent to distribute a Class B drug.