Routine Tow For Illegally Parked Car Ends With Gun, Arrest: PD

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Police went to ticket and tow a car they said was illegally parked in front of a pharmacy in Central Square and ended up finding a loaded .38 caliber firearm, drugs, scales, and cash Monday morning.

Patrol Officers said they saw the the driver - later identified as James Bonaventure, 24, of Cambridge - park in the No Parking Zone in the area of Mass Ave and Prospect Street around 8:45 a.m. and get out of the car and walk away.

An investigation into the car and driver's license showed that Bonaventure was driving the car on a suspended licence. While awaiting a tow, police began the routine inventory search of the car. During the search, they found a loaded .38 caliber firearm, multiple bags of marijuana, pills, $599 in cash, scales and other paraphernalia.

Police arrested Bonaventure who faces a number of charges, including Carrying a Firearm without a License, Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card, Possession of a Class E Drug, Possession of a Class D Drug with Intent to Distribute, and Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

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Photo courtesy Cambridge Police