HOLYOKE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – A Holyoke woman is facing several charges after police allegedly find drugs inside car.

Holyoke Police said officers were on a mobile community policing detail Tuesday night when they conducted a property check at 173 Elm Street and saw a pitbull tied to a fence with no owner present. They also received information that the dog had been there for several hours. Animal control officers were called and retrieved the dog.

Officers then saw an unrelated, unoccupied vehicle with its windows slightly open and a small puppy in distress. Police noted it was approximately 81 degrees at the time and investigators also saw a gun and marijuana in the vehicle.

A short time later, 34-year-old Izaida Gonzalez of Holyoke walked over and tried to get into the vehicle. Officers stopped her and she reportedly said she had rented the car. The puppy was taken to Holyoke Police headquarters for some water and air conditioning before being turned over to animal control.

The car was towed pending a search and Gonzalez was released. On Wednesday, police received a search warrant for the vehicle and located an illegal semi-automatic firearm that was loaded with seven rounds. They also reportedly found approximately 235 bags of suspected fentanyl or heroin, more than 18 grams of crack-cocaine, nearly $2,000 in cash, 16.9 grams of marijuana, eight high-end luxury watches, a silver chain, and two rings.

Police noted that “while Detectives were applying for an arrest warrant on Thursday,” Gonzalez arrived at the police department to ask her vehicle and she was placed under arrest on charges including carrying a firearm without a license (third offense), carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card (subsequent offense), possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, improper storage of a firearm, cocaine trafficking (18 to 36 grams), possession with the intent to distribute a Class A drug, possession of a Class A drug, and having an animal confined in a motor vehicle during extreme heat or cold.

Holyoke Police added that Gonzalez reportedly has prior convictions from Hampden Superior Court for firearms and heroin charges.

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