Mass. man pulled over for plate violation gets arrested for felonies
WOONSOCKET — A plate violation led to the arrest of a Fall River man Thursday after police found a loaded gun with obliterated serial numbers in the car he was driving.
Brandon C. Tessier, 23, of 200 Franklin St., was charged with several firearms offenses, including carrying a pistol without a permit, possession of a firearm by an individual previously convicted of a violent crime and possession of a firearm with altered or obliterated serial numbers – all felonies.
Tessier was wanted in Massachusetts and was also charged with possession of a firearm by a fugitive, Patrol Officer Michael Strain’s report says. He was remanded to the Adult Correctional Institutions pending a rendition hearing, according to the Department of Corrections inmate database.
Tessier has a record for armed robbery in Massachusetts, according to previously published reports.
Strain reported that he was patrolling on Social Street shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday when he saw a black Hyundai at a traffic light with a license plate bearing a cover that rendered it practically unreadable. He pulled the vehicle over and learned of Tessier’s active warrant out of Massachusetts.
After taking him into custody, Tessier’s vehicle was searched by Strain, Officer Mason Freeman and Officer Brandon Viens, at which point they initially found a clip containing 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Strain took custody of the clip and officers continued searching the vehicle, discovering a loaded Kel-Tec P-11 9mm pistol under the driver’s seat with 11 more rounds of ammunition in it.
“I observed the firearm and noticed that the serial number that is located on the rear of the firearm had been scratched off,” Strain reported.
Police also found a blue mask in the trunk of the vehicle and a small amount of marijuana in the center console.
Tessier was also issued citations for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and improper display of a motor vehicle registration plate.