BERNARDSTON — Two Bennington, Vt. residents were arrested during a traffic stop on Interstate 91 on Thursday that revealed they had 930 wax baggies of heroin, a loaded firearm and ammunition, and various pieces of narcotics paraphernalia.
According to a Massachusetts State Police press release, Trooper Amanda McIntosh and her field training officer, Trooper Michael Leslie, both of the Shelburne Falls barracks, were on patrol on Interstate 91 northbound at around 8:15 p.m. when they observed a black Hyundai Tucson with a Vermont registration commit multiple motor vehicle violations.
The two troopers pulled the vehicle over for improper crossing over lines near the 54.9 mile marker in Bernardston, according to police. Prior to stopping, the driver allegedly flicked a lit cigarette out the driver’s side window.
The driver was 32-year-old Richard Bump and his passenger was 24-year-old Abbie Harrington, both of Bennington, Vt. As a result of an investigation and search of the vehicle, McIntosh and Leslie located about 930 wax baggies of heroin, a loaded Sig Sauer .45 firearm with nine rounds of ammunition, two magazine pouches with 18 rounds of .45 ammunition, $2,500 in cash and various pieces of narcotics paraphernalia, according to the release.
Bump was charged with trafficking heroin, conspiracy to violate the drug law, possession of a firearm in a felony, possessing/carrying a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition without an FID card, carrying a loaded firearm, tampering with evidence of a crime, a marked lanes violation, speeding and throwing a cigarette from a vehicle.
Harrington was charged with trafficking heroin, conspiracy to violate the drug law, possession of a firearm in a felony, possessing/carrying a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition without an FID card, carrying a loaded firearm and tampering with evidence of a crime.
According to the release, Bump and Harrington were transported to the Shelburne Falls State Police barracks for booking. A bail commissioner was contacted, who set bail for both at $7,500. The two were transferred to the Franklin County House of Correction pending their arraignment in Greenfield District Court.
Dave Procopio, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts State Police, said Harrington’s charge for tampering with evidence of a crime was issued because after she was put in a holding cell at the barracks, officers found evidence that she attempted to flush several wax baggies – consistent with those found in the car with narcotics – down the toilet. After she was brought to the House of Correction, staff there located additional narcotics that she had attempted to conceal inside her body.