WHATELY — A Springfield man faces narcotics, firearm and motor vehicle charges after State Police stopped him on Interstate 91 early Tuesday morning for driving an unregistered vehicle.

Kadar St. Phard, 29, pleaded not guilty in Greenfield District Court this week to unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, improper storage of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in fentanyl, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

According to State Police, Trooper Timothy Alben Jr. was on patrol shortly before 2 a.m. on Tuesday when he queried the license plate of a Lexus traveling northbound on Interstate 91 in Whately and determined the vehicle’s registration was expired.

Alben stopped the Lexus with help from Troopers Joshua Kopeski and Owen King. The driver, identified as St. Phard, allegedly told police he on his wa home from Northampton, even though he was traveling north, the opposite direction from Springfield.

After Kopeski observed a firearm tucked behind the front passenger seat, within reach of the driver, the troopers removed St. Phard from the car and determined he had neither a license to carry a firearm nor a driver’s license. According to State Police, the gun was a Glock 23, with a magazine holding 13 rounds inserted and another round in the chamber.

The troopers on the traffic stop, who had been joined by Trooper Brian Boutwell, then searched the vehicle. According to State Police, they found a plastic bag in the trunk containing a chunky white substance, believed to be cocaine, weighing 152 grams. Troopers then located approximately 6,500 wax paper bags believed to contain fentanyl.

St. Phard was taken to the State Police barracks in Northampton for booking before being transported to the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction to await arraignment.

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