Williamsburg man faces gun charges

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

HATFIELD - A Williamsburg man is facing numerous weapons charges after police allegedly found a loaded gun and drugs in his truck Friday during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 91.

Philip Bacon, 27, of 121 South St., pleaded innocent Monday in Northampton District Court to charges of possessing a class E substance (Adderall), possessing a loaded firearm without an Firearms Identification Card, possessing ammunition without an FID card, defacing the serial number on a firearm, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, and committing a number plate violation to conceal his identity.

According to court documents, Trooper Rachel Loisell of the Northampton State Police Barracks was observing traffic on I-91 southbound Friday morning when she saw Bacon drive by in a yellow Dodge pickup with a loud, defective exhaust. Loisell checked the plates and found that they were revoked and belonged to a red Chevrolet pickup.

After being stopped at a gas station off Exit 21, Bacon reportedly told Loisell that his license was suspended for failure to pay child support and that he had recently purchased the truck and borrowed his friend's plates so he could drive it.

While searching the vehicle, which was also occupied by Bacon's pit bull, Loisell reportedly found a black handgun under the passenger seat with a loaded magazine and the serial number scratched off. Further search of the vehicle also revealed a black backpack in the back seat containing a multicolored pipe with marijuana residue, a grinder with marijuana inside and a brown prescription bottle containing 12 Adderall pills. A plastic bag containing less than an ounce of marijuana was later found in Bacon's pocket, according to police.

While under arrest, Bacon told Loisell, according to her report, that when he purchased the gun in Holyoke for protection, the serial number was already scratched off. Bacon also allegedly told Loisell the prescription bottle of Adderall belonged to his girlfriend's son and that he had mistakenly taken it with him that morning.

Bacon posted $3,000 bail and is scheduled to reappear in court for a pretrial conference on May 28.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.