LITTLETON — Chief Matthew J. Pinard reports that the Littleton Police Department charged a man with operating under the influence of liquor and carrying a firearm while intoxicated as a result of a traffic stop on Thursday morning.
ERICK SPLETTSTOESSER, AGE 45, OF SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE, was arrested and charged with:
- Operating Under the Influence of Liquor (subsequent offense)
- Possession of a Firearm Without a License (Four Counts)
- Carrying a Firearm While Intoxicated (Four Counts)
- Unlawful Possession of Ammunition
- Possession of a Class E Substance
- Motor Vehicle Lights Violation
- Operating With a Suspended License
On Thursday, Feb. 10, at approximately 9:37 a.m., Officer Brian Casey initiated a traffic stop in the area of 263 King St., after observing a green Dodge pickup truck on King Street with an abnormally loud exhaust, heavy rear-end damage, and a light missing from the right side of the vehicle.
Upon speaking with the driver of the vehicle, identified as SPLETTSTOESSER, Officer Casey reportedly detected an odor of alcohol, and observed multiple bottles of hard liquor in the rear of SPLETTSTOESSER’s vehicle, along with an unsecured Keltec shotgun and multiple boxes of ammunition in plain sight.
A further investigation determined SPLETTSTOESSER did not have a license to carry firearms in Massachusetts.
A search of SPLETTSTOESSER’s vehicle led to the discovery of additional weapons — a Winchester 30-30 rifle, a Smith & Wesson handgun, an AR-15 rifle, a BB gun and a sword — and a small amount of prescription medication.
SPLETTSTOESSER was taken into custody at the scene. He is expected to be arraigned Thursday in Ayer District Court.
These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
