Barnstable Police Thwart Possible Murder With Routine Traffic Stop

BARNSTABLE, MA — Two men are facing various charges including conspiring to commit murder after a Barnstable police officer pulled them over and found drugs, ammunition and two sawed-off shotguns in their car.

On April 18, an officer was en route to a report of gunshots when he met a vehicle on Attucks Lane traveling toward him at a high rate of speed, according to Barnstable police. The officer pulled over the vehicle and, during a search, discovered the sawed-off shotguns, multiple boxes of ammunition, and narcotics.

Nolan Richard, 19, of Bourne, and Ryan Parker, 20, of Canton, Ohio, were in the vehicle, according to police.

Further investigation by Barnstable police, Harwich police, Massachusetts State Police and the FBI found that Richard and Parker were allegedly planning to kill someone over a past drug transaction, police said.

In addition to conspiracy to commit murder, Richard and Parker face the following charges:

• Unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun.
• Unlawful possession of ammunition.
• Improper storage of a firearm.
• Discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling.
• Defaced serial number of a firearm.
• Firearm possession without a license to carry.
• Drug possession to distribute Class C.
• Drug possession to distribute Class B.
• Drug possession to distribute Class E.
• Drug possession to distribute Class D.

Both men were arraigned Tuesday in Barnstable District Court. They are being held pending another hearing on April 22, police said.