Commonwealth v. Santiago

*792 Following a jury trial, the defendant was convicted of possession of a firearm, second offense, 1 and possession of a loaded firearm. On appeal, the defendant argues that a Superior Court judge (motion judge) erred in denying his motion to suppress the firearm and some cash discovered during a stop of the vehicle in which the defendant was a passenger. The defendant asserts that police conduct during the stop -- including boxing the vehicle in *793 and approaching with guns drawn -- escalated the encounter to an arrest, for which probable cause was lacking.

After considering the circumstances as…