Two Arrested for Gun Possession in Worcester

Monday, June 11, 2018

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Two people were arrested for possession of a gun during a regular motor vehicle stop in Worcester.

Ton Tran, 21, was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle while Unlicensed, and Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm.

Celin Petion, 23, was placed under arrest and charged with Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm, and Resisting Arrest.

Petion also had an existing outstanding arrest warrant in effect for motor vehicle infractions.

The Incident

On Thursday, June 7, at approximately 2:07 a.m., A Worcester Police officer was parked in a stationary position in a marked police cruiser at the corner of Park Avenue and Maywood Street.

At this time, the officer saw a gray Toyota Camry drive by him. The officer noticed the registration plate and recognized it as the vehicle that is being driven by a man that he is familiar with named Ton Tran. The officer had knowledge that Tran had a limited license (hardship) that was valid from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The officer was able to pull next to the Camry and make a visual identification that the operator was in fact Tran. Once confirmation was made, Tran was signaled to stop in front of 536 Park Avenue.

The officer approached the driver’s door and asked the operator (Tran) to exit the vehicle. Backup officers arrived at the scene and approached the passenger door. The backup officer asked the passenger, later identified as Petion of 273 Lovell Street, to exit the vehicle. Petion began to exit but was leaning to the right in an attempt to conceal something. At this point the backup officer yelled out that the male had a gun. Once out of the vehicle Mr. Petion began to run at full sprint away from the motor vehicle stop.

Officers began to run after Petion while others remained with Mr. Tran. While chasing after Petion, officers observed that he was holding his right arm towards the front waistband area. The foot chase continued behind buildings and over fences but eventually came to an end when Petion decided to give up in the area of 487 Park Avenue.

A search of Petion produced no weapon. At this time the area was searched for the weapon. Officers believed that Petion discarded the weapon it in an area when officers had briefly lost sight of him during the chase.

Officers realized that one of the places that they lost sight of Petion was near the Blarney Stone. The Blarney Stone has a low roofline and seemed like a feasible place to look.

Officers called in the Worcester Fire Department and had a ladder truck respond.

Officers were hoisted to the roof. Officers immediately located the firearm. The weapon is a Raven 25 semi-automatic handgun.

The weapon was recovered from the roof by a member of the Crime Scene Unit and secured back at police headquarters and will be held for evidence.