Salem Man Faces Gun, Drug Charges

Police eyeing a vehicle with a snow covered license plate and taillights led to a traffic stop last month and charges, according to an arrest report.

Justin Oliverio, 25, of Crescent Street in Salem, was arrested at 8:02 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2015, and charged with possession of drugs, possession of controlled drugs, and carrying a loaded handgun without a license.

Officers traveling north on South Street near Pleasant came across a black Audi A4 driving on the street and saw that its rear headlights and license plate were covered in snow.

The officers pulled the vehicle over on Green Street near Blake and spoke to the driver, Oliverio, who reportedly stated that he was following his girlfriend to Concord Motorsports to drop off her car.

“While I spoke with Oliverio, I could smell the odor of marijuana, based on my training and experience,” the officer alleged.

When asked if there was anything in the vehicle that shouldn’t be there, Oliverio allegedly stated, “No.” When asked about the marijuana smell, he reportedly stated that was a bowl underneath the driver’s seat, and handed it to the officer.

Oliverio was asked if there were any other drugs or weapons in the car. He allegedly stated that there were three unloaded guns in the backseat. Oliverio reportedly gave consent for officers to search the car. During the search, they allegedly found three handguns – a Ruger LC380, a Ruger SR40C, and a Sig Sauer P229 Elite – inside cases. All three were allegedly loaded with the 380 containing a round in the chamber, according to the report. Oliverio was then arrested.

Officers later learned that he was convicted of a Class B Felony for criminal mischief in June 2013, in Salem District Court. He later reportedly told officers it was based on a car crash where he took out the guard wire on a pole but he was found not guilty and the charge was later dropped to a speeding violation. Oliverio reportedly told police he purchased the guns through private sales from family members.

Police, according to the report, chose not to charge him for being a felon in possession of a dangerous weapon after the arrest but the report stated that the watch commander would reach out to the prosecutor’s office to inquire about the discrepancy between the conviction data and Oliverio’s comments.

Oliverio was released on personal recognizance bail and is due to be arraigned in court on March 16.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch police report.