SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – Two people are facing charges after a traffic stop ended with a foot chase and a gun seizure.

Springfield Police spokesperson Ryan Walsh said officers saw an unregistered and uninsured scooter in the area of Locust and Mill Streets Sunday afternoon. They conducted a traffic stop once the scooter stopped and the passenger, identified as 22-year-old Roberto Mercado of Holyoke, allegedly ran away.

As he tried to flee, a gun reportedly fell out of one of Mercado’s pant legs. Police seized the loaded gun, which also had a defaced serial number, and continued the foot chase. “An unidentified civilian assisted by grabbing Mercado, allowing officers to take him into custody,” Walsh added. Mercado was arrested on charges including carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, and resisting arrest.

Investigators learned that the scooter operator, 19-year-old Luis Flores-Rivera of Springfield, didn’t have a license to operate it. He was arrested on charges including unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with attached plates, defective equipment, and motorcycle equipment violation.

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