CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - A Chicopee man was arrested on Friday during a traffic stop when an illegal firearm was allegedly found in his possession. The Chicopee Police Department said that on Friday afternoon, detectives were conducting surveillance on a suspect at 222.5 Exchange Street due to a tip that he may have had a firearm. Ware man arrested on rape and assault charges involving an axe At approximately 4:00 p.m., the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Shan Diaz of Chicopee, was seen leaving his apartment and driving away in the passenger seat of a car. Law enforcement witnessed a motor vehicle violation and proceeded to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. When the detectives approached, they noticed a backpack on the floor near Diaz's feet and became concerned that he was armed. Courtesy of the Chicopee Police Department.Courtesy of the Chicopee Police Department.Courtesy of the Chicopee Police Department. Diaz was removed from the vehicle while the detectives checked for weapons. A firearm was found under the passenger seat where Diaz was sitting, and during which time, Diaz attempted to escape from the police. Detectives were quickly able to catch and arrest him. The driver of the vehicle was issued a citation for the traffic violation and permitted to leave. Further investigation revealed that Diaz did not have a license to carry a firearm, and that the firearm found in the vehicle had been reported stolen out of North Carolina. Shan Diaz was charged with: Carrying a Firearm Without a License Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card Firearm Violation with 1 Prior Violent/Drug Crime Receive Stolen Property Resisting Arrest Carrying a Loaded Firearm Without a License Local News Headlines Dressing sold at Trader Joe’s in 17 states recalled over undeclared allergens State using interest income to pay down $105 million in debt Fuel rates, mandates, tariffs add punch to energy price stew Springfield custodian says $1 million lottery ticket changed his life 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. ...read more read less