A police chase that started in Prince William County ended in Arlington’s Arna Valley neighborhood this afternoon.
Virginia State Police reportedly began pursuing a green Chevrolet SUV in Prince William , following it up I-95 and I-395. The SUV took the Glebe Road exit off I-395 around 1:00 p.m., speeding toward the residential neighborhood of Arna Valley, near Shirlington.
The suspects bailed out on S. Veitch Street, between 26th and 27th Streets. All three were quickly apprehended.
Dozens of police officers, including state troopers and Arlington County officers, swarmed the area as the pursuit ended. A Fairfax County Police helicopter could be seen overhead. Nearby Gunston Middle School was secured for a short time during and after the chase.
Per department policy, Arlington County Police were not involved in the pursuit.
So far there’s no word on what charges the suspects are facing, or on what state troopers might have found in the SUV.
Separately, around 3:00 p.m., Virginia State Police were in pursuit of a vehicle involved in a felony hit-and-run. The chase was called off as the vehicle was approaching Arlington on northbound I-395, according to scanner traffic.
Update at 5:00 p.m. — Virginia State Police have released a statement about both chases.
PURSUIT #1 – Prince William County to Arlington County
At approximately 12:53 p.m. Wednesday, a Virginia State Police trooper was on patrol along Cardinal Drive (near Minnieville Road) in Dale City when a 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe with an expired inspection sticker passed by. The trooper initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, which refused to stop and sped away from the trooper. The suspect vehicle made its way to the Prince William Parkway and then northbound on Interstate 95 and then into Arlington County on I-395. The Tahoe took the Glebe Road exit and continued into a residential neighborhood. The driver and two passengers pulled up to a residence on South Veitch Street, fled the vehicle on foot and entered the residence. All three males have been taken into custody without incident and charges are pending. The investigation remains ongoing at this time.
No injuries or vehicle crashes resulted from this pursuit.
The Fairfax County Police helicopter was instrumental in assisting state police with following the suspect vehicle and locating the subjects at the residence. In addition, the Arlington County and City of Alexandria Police Departments also assisted with the incident.
PURSUIT #2 – Stafford County to Arlington County
At approximately 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, a Virginia State Police trooper was in the crossover at the 137 mile marker in Stafford County monitoring northbound traffic when a Toyota Camry came through radar at 94 mph. When the trooper pulled out to initiate a traffic stop on the car, it sped away in excess of 100 mph. The car continued northbound on the shoulder and weaving through lanes. Within 10 minutes near the 158 mile marker in Prince William County, the trooper terminated the pursuit for public safety purposes. The Toyota continued northbound. There were three subjects in the vehicle.
At 2:53 p.m., Virginia State Police were notified of a hit-and-run crash in the northbound lanes of I-395 at the Seminary Road Exit. Based on witness statements, it is believed this crash was caused by the same Toyota Camry. A Honda Civic was northbound on I-395 when it was sideswiped by a black sedan. The black car continued northbound at a high rate of speed. The driver of the Honda Civic, a 24-year-old Woodbridge woman, was transported to Inova Alexandria Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. She was wearing a seat belt and was the car’s only occupant.
Anyone with information about the black Toyota Camry with Tennessee plates is asked to please contact the Virginia State Police at 703-803-0026 or #77 on a cell phone.