SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A Springfield man is facing gun charges after being arrested while police enforce anti-drag racing on early Sunday morning. Updated Covid-19 vaccine released for the first time this year According to the Springfield Police Department, officers were patrolling the area of Riverfront Park on State Street to deter illegal car meets and street racing. At around 2:30 a.m. officers observed several vehicles parked in the lot, trespassing in a park after dark. As officers worked to disperse the crowd, a driver later identified as 35-year-old Darrell Smith of Springfield, did not have a driver's license. An inventory check was conducted inside the vehicle awaiting to be towed. Officers found a loaded firearm capable of holding 12 rounds of ammunition.  Smith was arrested and charged with the following: Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm Carrying a Firearm without a License Possession of a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number Operating a Motor Vehicle without a License Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle City Ordinance Violation – Trespassing in a Park after Dark Local News Headlines Israeli strike kills Hezbollah leader, escalating conflict State lawmaker on prison attack: “they must be held accountable at all costs” Opioid epidemic still rising, 187 lives lost daily State leaders meet to discuss mental health resources for veterans WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.