Alleged Gang Member Arrested for Hate Crime

A man is in jail after allegedly shouting racial slurs and flashing a weapon at a two men near Columbia Pike.

The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, on the 4600 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive. Police say two African American men were having a conversation in the Carlton condominium parking lot when a stranger walked up to them, “took a fighting stance” and started cursing and yelling racial slurs at them.

He then pulled a shiny object out of his pocket, which the victims believed was a weapon. The man also yelled “Columbia Pike Locos,” an apparent reference to a gang the man is affiliated with, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Lt. Kip Malcolm.

The victims, who are twin brothers, called police, who quickly arrived on scene, found the suspect nearby and arrested him.

The suspect, 37-year-old Chad Michael Bailey, refused to answer officers’ questions, Malcolm said. Police say they found a small pair of scissors in his pocket.

Bailey was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal gang participation. He’s currently being held at the Arlington County jail.

Assault as a hate crime is a misdemeanor that comes with a minimum six month sentence if convicted. Unlike the charge of assault and battery, simple assault does not require any allegation of physical harm to the victim.