In case you wonder where all the guns come from

State Police report that what started as a traffic stop outside a Raynham motel yesterday evening ended with the seizure of seven guns, more than enough ammo to end numerous lives, some premium pharmaceuticals and a nice wad of bills.

Oh, both out-of-state men, one from Michigan, the other from Florida, were arrested on a variety of charges, which only multiplied after one of them let troopers search their room at the Quality Inn:

After being advised of his rights, ASHCRAFT freely consented to allow Troopers to search his rented motel room, Room 101. ASHCRAFT, in whose name the room was rented, also acknowledged that there were more firearms in the room, that he and BAIER had transported the firearms to Massachusetts from Florida to sell them, and that neither of them had a license to carry or Firearms Identification Card in Massachusetts.

State Police say the action started around 6:40 p.m. when a trooper noticed Donald Ashcraft, 37, of Clio, MI, on his phone while his car was moving and went over to have a chat since, at least in Massachusetts, that's now illegal. Ashcraft then admitted he didn't have a license, so he was ordered out of the car to be arrested for driving without one.

As Trooper Kelley was escorting ASHCRAFT from the rented 2020 Hyundai Elantra, Trooper Pacheco observed a single round of ammunition under where the driver had been sitting. Upon further investigation, the Troopers determined that the passenger, CRAIG C. BAIER, 39, of Bradenton, Fla., was also in possession of ammunition. During subsequent conversation with ASHCRAFT, he admitted there was a firearm in the glovebox. Troopers then searched the glovebox and located a loaded, semi-automatic Taurus 9mm handgun with a 17-round feeding device containing 12 rounds. Troopers located several additional 9mm rounds in BAIER’s pocket and, in the driver’s side door, two pills believed to be Adderall, six pills believed to be Xanax, and a suboxone strip.

The State Police Gang Unit arrived and, State Police say, Ashcraft agreed to let them search their room, where they then found six more guns, several with high-capacity feeding devices, lots of bullets and $4,167 in cash, which State Police seized as possible illicit profits from the illegal sale and trafficking of firearms. The State police gun and crime-scene units were requested to secure the scene.

Both men were taken down to the Middleboro barracks, where both were charged for unlawful possession of a firearm, multiple counts of possession of a large-capacity feeding device and improper storage of a firearm. Ashcraft was also charged with violation of the Massachusetts hands-free law, driving without a license and possession of Class B and E drugs.

Both were held in lieu of $50,000 bail pending their arraignment today in Taunton District Court, police say.

Innocent, etc.