Feeding Hills driver arrested after doing whippets, police seize loaded ghost gun and cocaine

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A man from Feeding Hills was arrested after police found a loaded ghost gun, crack cocaine, and nitrous oxide containers in his car during a traffic stop.

The Springfield Police Department states that on Friday, officers were in the area of Broad Street and Hall of Fame Avenue around 5:30 p.m. when they saw a driver commit a marked lane violation.

The driver, 24-year-old Bernamaxin Lebron-Sierra of Feeding Hills, pulled into a gas station where officers conducted a traffic stop. Lebron-Sierra was seen holding an inflated balloon and then inhaling it. When officers approached the vehicle, they could see suspected nitrous oxide or whippet containers. Officers recovered a loaded Ghost Gun and crack cocaine inside the vehicle.

Lebron-Sierra was placed under arrest and was charged with the following:

• Carrying a Firearm without a License
• Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
• Possession of a Convert/Undetectable Firearm
• Possession of a Class B Drug
• Possession of a Class C Drug
• OUI – Drugs
• Inhaling a Toxic Substance
• Marked Lanes Violation
• Registration Not in Possession

What are Whippets?

“Whippets” is a slang term for recreationally used nitrous oxide, according to BlueCrest Recovery Center. Nitrous oxide is a type of gas that, when it is inhaled inappropriately, can cause some mental and physical impairment.

It can be very useful, including pain relief, food preparation, and boosting the performance of cars. Many dentists use it as a form of anesthesia during dental treatments. However, nitrous oxide can also be inhaled as a recreational drug.

One of the most common forms of nitrous oxide is whipped cream chargers. Abusing nitrous oxide goes by many names, such as:

• Laughing Gas
• Nitro
• Nos
• Nossies
• Nangs
• Balloons

What is a Ghost Gun?

Ghost guns are assembled with parts that can be bought online and are shipped to buyers nearly built, and easily able to put together the remaining parts. The kits lack serial numbers, which is why they are called “ghost guns,” and are nearly impossible for officials to trace.