A joint investigation by five area towns resulted in the arrest Friday of a Maynard man on charges of stealing and trying to sell firearms, including some assault rifles.

Lawrence White, 24, was arrested at 29 Durant Ave. in Maynard at 5:30 p.m. Friday, said Marlborough Detective Lt. Robert Jusseaume, one of the investigators in the case. The investigation included police from Maynard, Marlborough, Hudson, Sudbury and Newton, he said.

“We were able to pool information and resources and we were able to, based on our investigation, establish probable cause that a cache of weapons was stored at house in Maynard,” Jusseaume said.

Police obtained a search warrant from Concord District Court, and they found six weapons, Jusseaume said, which included both handguns and assault weapons. Some, but not all, came from a burglary in Newton.

White will be arraigned Monday in Concord District Court.

Jusseaume did not have information on the exact charges, but said he anticipates they will include burglary, illegal possession of firearms and selling firearms.

“It originated with a burglary in Newton over the summer,” Jusseaume said. “Numerous weapons, including assault rifles, were taken.”

The investigation included use of an undercover police officer who posed as a weapons buyer, Jusseaume said.

“Based on the investigation, we found the suspect had the intention to sell the firearms,” Jusseaume said. “One individual weapon, one of the assault rifles, was tentatively to be sold for $1,500.”

Newton Police started the investigation, Jusseaume said, but other departments were brought in during the last few weeks.

“All the other towns involved in the investigation were working together based on information they were gathering that the weapons could be in transit and kept in different locations,” Jusseaume said.

(Charlie Breitrose can be reached at 508-626-3964 or cbreitro@cnc.com.)</EM></P></DIV>