Man faces charges stemming from stolen assault rifle
WOONSOCKET — A 22year-old city man is facing charges of larceny and possession of a stolen assault rifle after a deli operator told police the weapon was missing from the bathroom of his business.
David Hernandez, 22, of 67 Gaulin Ave., was also charged with being a fugitive from justice out of Florida. He waived extradition following an arraignment in District Court on Friday, according to the judiciary’s web site.
Police began looking for Hernandez after the owner of Stop and Go Deli, 66 Cass Ave., reported that an AK-47 had been stolen from a closet in the bathroom of the restaurant late Wednesday night. The owner of the business told police he kept the semi-automatic rifle on the premises for protection in case of a robbery.
Hours later, after an investigation, police located a vehicle similar to one spotted on a security camera around the time of the theft parked outside a residence on Gaulin Avenue. Surveillance was set up and a short time later three male subjects entered the vehicle and a felony car stop was conducted.
All three subjects, including Hernandez, were brought to the police station.
After questioning Hernandez, police found the weapon hidden under a mattress in the bedroom of his apartment. Police also recovered a magazine loaded with three rounds of ammunition for the weapon.