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Woman charged with pepper spraying man during road rage dispute

Published September 16, 2022 at 11:55AM

Arlington police car (file photo) — File photo

A 54-year-old Arlington woman was arrested after an apparent road rage dispute escalated to violence.

The incident happened around 8:30 a.m. around the intersection of King Street and S. Chesterfield Road, near the Wendy’s and a short distance from Wakefield High School.

Police say a dispute among drivers ended with the suspect cutting off the victim, pepper spraying him when they both got out of their cars, and then driving off before returning and continuing to argue. The suspect was arrested by police nearby. She is charged with Malicious Wounding by Caustic Substance.

More from an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING BY CAUSTIC SUBSTANCE, 2022-09150074, 5000 block of Chesterfield Road. At approximately 8:25 a.m. on September 15, police were dispatched to the report of an assault with injury. Upon arrival, the male victim was being treated on scene by medics for non-life threatening injuries. The investigation determined the victim and suspect had been driving in the area of King Street and S. Chesterfield Road when they became involved in a dispute. The victim continued driving and the suspect allegedly followed and cut him off. Both drivers then exited their vehicles and the suspect allegedly pepper sprayed the victim before driving away. The suspect immediately returned and another verbal dispute ensued. Arriving officers locate the suspect in the area and took her into custody without incident.

Man arrested for randomly pepper spraying people on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published July 28, 2022 at 11:30AM | Updated July 28, 2022 at 12:07PM

(Updated at 12:05 p.m.) A local man is in jail after police say he sprayed four people with pepper spray along Columbia Pike for no apparent reason.

The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. yesterday (Wednesday) near the Bob & Edith’s diner at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Wayne Street.

According to police, the man first struck the driver of a car that was waiting at the intersection, then sprayed the driver and another occupant “with what was believed to be pepper spray.”

The 38-year-old suspect then assaulted a woman who was walking in the area and sprayed her and another woman with the chemical irritant, according to police.

Three of the victims were taken to a local hospital, while the suspect was taken into custody “without incident,” police said.

More from today’s Arlington County Police Department crime report.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2022-07270109, Columbia Pike and S. Wayne Street. At approximately 11:35 a.m. on July 27, police were dispatched to the report of an assault that had just occurred. The investigation determined the male suspect allegedly approached a vehicle at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Veitch Street, struck the driver and sprayed both of the vehicle’s occupants with what was believed to be pepper spray. The suspect continued along Columbia Pike where he approached two female victims walking in the area, assaulted one and sprayed both with what was believed to be pepper spray. A lookout was broadcast and officers located the suspect and took him into custody without incident. Medics responded to the scene and evaluated the four victims with three being transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries considered non-life threatening. Wade Westmoreland, 38, of No Fixed Address was charged with Malicious Wounding by Caustic Agent (x4) and Assault and Battery (x2). He was held without bond.

Court records show the suspect, Wade Westmoreland, was previously released on his own recognizance after an arrest in May 2021.

He was charged with destruction of property and multiple counts of assaulting police and obstructing justice after police say he jumped on the hood of a stopped car in the Ballston area, smashed the windshield, and later “became physically combative with officers.”

Westmoreland was charged with failure to appear in court in May of this year, in connection with the case.

He’s due back in court for the latest and the previous in September and October, respectively. He was previously charged in Arlington with vehicle theft in 2017 and public intoxication in 2021, according to court records.

ACPD: Woman pepper sprayed man for taking photos of children — who turned out to be his own kids

By ARLnow.com

Published April 13, 2022 at 3:30PM

In an apparent case of mistaken assumptions, a woman pepper sprayed someone she believed to be a stranger taking photos of children. The kids, however, were his.

The incident happened on the 1100 block of S. Hayes Street, the same block as the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall, around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

“Police were dispatched to the report of an assault in progress,” said today’s Arlington County Police Department crime report. “Upon arrival, it was determined that the unknown female suspect approached a security guard and stated she believed the victim was taking pictures of juveniles not known to him.”

“The security guard made contact with the victim and determined he was taking photos of his children,” the crime report notes. But that explanation apparently did not satisfy the woman, who then pulled out a can of pepper spray.

“The suspect then intervened, deployed pepper spray and sprayed the victim, before fleeing the scene on foot,” the crime report says. “The victim sustained non-life threatening injuries and was treated on scene by medics. The investigation is ongoing.”

The suspect, said to be in her late 20s or early 30s, remains at large. She is being sought on a charge of “malicious injury by caustic agent.”

JUST IN: Man stabbed outside Sequoia Plaza complex after fight on bus

By ARLnow.com

Published March 10, 2022 at 3:55PM | Updated March 11, 2022 at 11:30AM

Stabbing reported outside Sequoia Plaza (staff photos by Jay Westcott)

Update at 11:30 a.m. — Arlington County police just released the following account of what happened in the department’s daily crime report.

At approximately 3:34 p.m. on March 10, police were dispatched to the report of a fight in progress. Upon arrival, officers located the suspect and took him into custody without incident. The investigation determined that the victim and suspect were on a bus when they became involved in a verbal dispute. The dispute escalated into a physical altercation, during which the suspect brandished a knife and struck the victim. The victim then deployed pepper spray. The victim sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment. The suspect sustained minor injuries and was treated on scene by medics. Marvin Mullins, 46, of Arlington, Va., was arrested and charged with Malicious Wounding.

Earlier: A stabbing has been reported outside Arlington County’s Sequoia Plaza office complex.

Initial reports suggest more than a dozen people were pepper sprayed, including a child, and a person was stabbed. Preliminary information from police indicates that the incident started as a fight on a bus around 3:30 p.m.

“It was determined that the victim and suspect were on a bus when they became involved in a verbal dispute,” Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage tells ARLnow. “The dispute escalated into a physical altercation, during which the suspect brandished a knife, causing a laceration to the victim. The victim then deployed pepper spray.”

“The victim, an adult male, has been transported to an area hospital and is in stable condition,” Savage continued. “Police remain on scene investigating and there are no outstanding suspects related to this incident.”

In addition to police, two ambulances and some additional fire department units were dispatched to the scene. At least one person was reportedly transported to the hospital, while those who were pepper sprayed were treated on scene.

Sequoia Plaza, on the 2100 block of Washington Blvd, hosts the county’s Dept. of Human Services headquarters — including behavior healthcare, child welfare and public health offices — as well the Arlington Public Schools administrative offices, also known as the Syphax Education Center.

An ART bus and a large area just outside of the APS building has been cordoned off with police tape. A man can be seen in handcuffs nearby, according to ARLnow staff photographer Jay Westcott.

Police: Partially Naked Man Tased After Being Unfazed by Pepper Spray

By ARLnow.com

Published March 31, 2020 at 1:15PM

An Arlington man is facing a number of charges after police say he drunkenly charged at officers in an apartment hallway while half naked.

Police were dispatched to one of the RiverHouse apartment buildings in Pentagon City around 2 p.m. Monday, after a caller said someone they knew was intoxicated and “acting disorderly” in an apartment.

“Upon arrival, the subject charged at officers and remained combative,” Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage tells ARLnow. “Following the deployment of pepper spray and a taser, the subject was taken into custody. He has been transported to an area hospital for evaluation. No officers were injured.”

An ACPD crime report add that the 40-year-old man was “partially undressed” and that the taser was used after the pepper spray “had little effect on the suspect.” He now faces charges of Indecent Exposure, Obstruction of Justice and Drunk in Public.

ACPD Makes Arrest in Christmas Day Mall Robbery

By ARLnow.com

Published December 26, 2019 at 2:30PM

A D.C. man has been arrested after police say he pepper sprayed an employee while trying to steal from a store in Ballston on Christmas Day.

The alleged crime happened on the 4200 block of Wilson Blvd — Ballston Quarter mall — around 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Arlington County Police say a man who was trying to conceal merchandise was confronted by an employee, who he subsequently sprayed with a caustic substance. Undeterred, the employee “tackled the suspect and detained him until police arrived on scene.”

Police: Bus Driver Pepper Sprayed in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2019 at 5:00PM

A bus driver was sprayed with pepper spray by a woman who tried to ride the bus without paying over the weekend, police say.

The incident happened Friday night in Clarendon.

According to Arlington County Police, the woman and several other people boarded a bus without paying shortly after 7 p.m. at the intersection of Clarendon Blvd and N. Highland Street. When the driver said they would have to pay the fare or get off, the woman pepper sprayed him, police say.

The driver was treated by medics at the scene.No arrests had been reported as of Monday afternoon.

Police Seeking Trio of Pizza Robbers

By ARLnow.com

Published January 5, 2016 at 4:30PM

Arlington County Police are trying to figure out who robbed a pizza delivery guy near the Walter Reed Community Center last night.

The incident happened around 10:45 p.m. Monday, on the 2700 block of 16th Street S. Police say a pizza delivery driver — a spokeswoman declined to say from which company — was delivering an order on the street but didn’t have an exact address.

Three women in their 20s, who were wearing dark clothing, flagged the driver down and said they ordered the pizza. Then, according to a police report, they pepper sprayed the driver and ran off with two pizzas.

So far, police do not have any suspects or specific suspect descriptions.

Crime Report: Would-Be Theft Victim Fights Back

By ARLnow.com

Published November 20, 2015 at 3:45PM | Updated February 27, 2020 at 4:14PM

A local man fought back against two guys who tried to steal his briefcase Tuesday night.

The incident happened just after 8 p.m. on the 2900 block of S. Glebe Road, near the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center. Police say the pair approached the man from behind and tried to take the case, but fled after the man sprayed one of the suspects with pepper spray.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report.

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY, 151117051, 2900 block of S. Glebe Road. At approximately 8:11 p.m. on November 17, two unknown male subjects approached a victim from behind and attempted to steal his briefcase. The victim was able to spray one of the subjects with pepper spray causing them both to flee. The first suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5’5″ tall and weighed 200 lbs. He was wearing a dark colored sweater, dark colored jeans, and a black ski mask. The second suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5’5″ tall and weighed 200 lbs. He was wearing a dark colored sweatshirt, stone washed jeans, boots, and a ski mask.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Police Pepper Spray Man in Crystal City Metro Station

By ARLnow.com

Published June 22, 2015 at 3:45PM

Metro Transit Police pepper sprayed a man who allegedly assaulted a station manager and a police officer in the Crystal City Metro station this afternoon.

Arlington County paramedics were called to the station around 1:30 this afternoon, to treat the suspect after the pepper spray incident.

According to Metro spokesman Dan Stessel, then man had “rammed” the Crystal City station manager while attempting to run through the emergency gate to evade the transit fare. Metro Transit Police officers responded to the station and found the man sitting on the floor in the station entrance area, smoking a cigarette.

“As they began talking to the man, the suspect abruptly kicked one of the officers from his position on the floor,” Stessel said. “The officers moved in to make the arrest, and in that process, utilized [pepper] spray to gain compliance. The suspect was arrested without further incident.”

The man is being charged with assault, for bumping the station manager, and assaulting a police officer. The station manager was not injured.

File photo

Man Arrested After Pepper Spraying GMU Law Prof

By ARLnow.com

Published March 26, 2014 at 4:20PM

A George Mason University law professor was pepper sprayed in his classroom today after a man tried to place him under a citizen’s arrest, according to Arlington County police.

The incident happened at GMU’s Arlington campus, near Virginia Square, around 3:00 p.m. Police say the man entered the classroom and attempted to place the professor under a citizen’s arrest. The professor tried to get the man — described as a white male in his 20s or 30s — to leave, at which time the man pepper sprayed him and a scuffle ensued, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The professor did not know the man, Sternbeck said.

An off-duty police officer heard the commotion and tried to intervene. The suspect fled but was arrested outside the school by Arlington County police officers, according to Stenbeck. He’s now being questioned by police. Several charges are pending.

Paramedics evaluated the professor and about a dozen students who were in the classroom at the time and suffered residual effects from the pepper spray. There were no reports of anyone being taken to the hospital.

Photo via Google Maps