NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — A 19-year-old man with multiple open cases in New Bedford District Court has been arrested for the second time in a little over a year on charges of possession of a loaded firearm and crack cocaine.

According to New Bedford Police, detectives from the Organized Crime Intelligence Bureau conducted a traffic stop in the city’s West End at about 7 p.m. on Monday, March 20 in the area of Spring Street and South Sixth Street, when they said a masked passenger emerged from the passenger side of the vehicle and fled on foot.

“He was observed trespassing into a nearby parking lot, producing a firearm from his
waistband, and tossing it over a nearby fence,” police said.

Detectives attempted to take him into custody, but police said he trespassed onto a nearby property, resisted arrest, and that once handcuffed was allegedly found to be in possession of 29 baggies of crack cocaine, as well as 29 grams of marijuana and over $400 in cash. Police said they also recovered the firearm, a Glock 22 .40-caliber pistol loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition.

The suspect, identified as Luis Garcia, 19, is charged with trespassing, trafficking in excess of 18 grams of cocaine, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition and possession of a high-capacity feeding device while committing a felony.

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According to police, Garcia was arrested in February of 2022 in a similar incident, when he allegedly fled from detectives before being captured and found in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun, crack cocaine and marijuana packaged for sale.

With that case still pending, Garcia was arrested again in July 2022 and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon as part of a group fight in the city’s North End at the intersection of Tallman Street and Ashley Boulevard. His co-defendant Camron Macklin allegedly pistol whipped the victim as Garcia allegedly threw punches.

Police said both of those cases remain open as part of the 10 open charges Garcia had prior to the newest charges.

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