Arlington Man Arrested for Illegal Gun Possession Makes Court Appearance

ARLINGTON, MA—An Arlington man who was allegedly found with an illegal firearm by MBTA Transit Police Monday was arraigned in Roxbury District Court Tuesday.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday that Eric Higgins, 39, of Arlington was arraigned on charges of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm with a defaced serial number with three prior convictions for violent or drug distribution offenses. Judge Debra DelVecchio released Higgins on his own recognizance with a curfew of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Prosecutors had recommended that Higgins be held on $45,000 cash bail.

According to the MBTA Transit Police, at 9 p.m. Monday, officers noticed Higgins loitering in a bus shelter in the area of Washington and East Lenox St. along the Silver Line. Officers later approached Higgins, instructing him not to loiter in the bus shelters.

An officer noticed a firearm directly under the bench that Higgins had been sitting on. Officers seized the gun, and placed Higgins under arrest after determining that he was not duly licensed, according to Transit Police.

Editor's Note: This post was derived from information provided by the MBTA Transit Police. It does not indicate a conviction.