Massachusetts Man Arrested After Police Find Cocaine and Rocket Launcher in Vehicle

SUTTON, Mass. – A Massachusetts man, identified as Harvey Johnson Jr. of Spencer, was arrested on Monday after police discovered cocaine and a U.S. Army rocket launcher in his vehicle. The incident took place in the parking lot of a hotel about 50 miles southwest of Boston.

According to the Sutton Police Department, a detective observed a suspicious vehicle with Johnson sitting in the driver’s seat. During their conversation, the detective noticed items typically associated with illegal narcotics use. Subsequently, a search of the vehicle led to the discovery of crack cocaine and an M190 U.S. Army rocket launcher hidden beneath the backseat.

Johnson was charged with possession of a Class B drug and possession of an incendiary device following his arrest.

Concerns for Safety

Det. Alex Sinni from the Sutton Police Department expressed his initial concerns for safety upon finding the rocket launcher. Sinni stated, “Once we were able to determine it was unloaded, we secured it and then searched the rest of the vehicle to ensure there were no explosives or rockets present.”

Despite the discovery, Johnson remained vague about the origins of the launcher and his intentions for possessing it. The U.S. Army confirmed that the M190 launcher is a training model of the M72 light anti-tank weapon, originally used during the Vietnam War era.

ATF agents took possession of the rocket launcher following the incident, and the U.S. Army stated that they needed more time to investigate the situation before providing further comment.

Associated Press Contribution

The Associated Press contributed to the report on this incident. Sinni emphasized the importance of thorough investigation and ensuring public safety in such cases.

The Sutton Police Department has not disclosed any additional information regarding the case at this time.