(Updated at 8:50 p.m.) A man wanted for a series of credit card and vehicle thefts has finally been taken into custody after a high-speed chase that zoomed through Arlington.
Alton Thodos, who escaped from a Fairfax County motel two weeks ago while surrounded by police, drove a reportedly stolen SUV northbound on the HOV lanes of I-395 this morning, pursued by Fairfax County police. Arlington County officers and the Fairfax County police helicopter assisted pursuing officers as the chase continued northbound toward the 14th Street Bridge.
Before the chase crossed the bridge, an Arlington officer attempted but to use a “spike strip” to flatten the tires of the SUV, but Thodos managed to maneuver around it, according to scanner traffic. (The image above shows the chase just before it crossed the river.)
Officers lost sight of the SUV after crossing into the District, but the search continued and the pursuit later continued in D.C. and Maryland. Thodos, 32, was later arrested after a crash in District Heights, Md.
More via Twitter:
Scanner: Police chase just zoomed up I-395 and crossed the 14th Street Bridge. Fairfax County PD chasing a stolen vehicle. Pursuit now happening in D.C. pic.twitter.com/ctGnRWuHwN
— Arlington Now (@ARLnowDOTcom) October 9, 2018
This is the vehicle that was being chased through Arlington on I-395 earlier today https://t.co/xTiGy6gWkW
— Arlington Now (@ARLnowDOTcom) October 9, 2018
MULTI-AGENCY CHASE HAS ENDED W/ARREST- 6214 Marlboro Pike in District Heights. Suspect is in custody. Seveal vehicles damaged in chase. Need EMS for minor injury.
— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) October 9, 2018
Witnesses say Thodo was being chased by police when he crashed and was surrounded. He jumped from his window and was tackled by police. The fugitive has been on the run after escaping a barricade situation in FFX pic.twitter.com/v8g9eLkuAd
— Brad Bell (@ABC7Brad) October 9, 2018
UPDATE: Alton Thodos has been arrested by the Prince George’s County Police Department in Maryland. Thanks to all the jurisdictions for assisting us with his arrest. @PGPDnews, @VSPPIO, @AlexandriaVAPD, @USParkpolicepio, and @DCpolicedept.
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) October 9, 2018