Springfield man charged with drug trafficking; found asleep in car with engine running

SPRINGFIELD – A 23-year-old city man is facing drug trafficking charges after he was found with 300 bags of heroin and more than 40 grams of crack cocaine early Thursday on Fernwald Street, police said.

Jerome Williams is charged with trafficking between 36 and 100 grams of cocaine, distribution of heroin, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle, and illegal possession of an electric stun gun.

According to police, officers on patrol on Fernwald Street in the city’s East Springfield neighborhood spotted a parked car with its engine running at 4:45 a.m. A check of its license plate revealed the car was not registered, police said.

Police said that when officers approached the car, the driver was asleep, and a bag of crack cocaine was in plain view inside the car.

After Williams was taken into custody, a search of the car led to the discovery of the heroin, $900, and an electronic stun gun. Possession of electric weapons have been permissible in Massachusetts since 2018 but with a license to carry.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Springfield District Court.