Four people were taken into police custody early Sunday morning after a license plate reader alerted an officer to a reported stolen vehicle.
The incident happened around midnight. Police say the driver of the stolen car took off after the officer attempted a traffic stop, then bailed out and fled on foot — along with three other vehicle occupants — near the intersection of 9th Street S. and S. Oakland Street, in the Alcova Heights neighborhood near Columbia Pike.
Police established a perimeter and the Fairfax County Police helicopter was called in to assist with the suspect search. Eventually, all four suspects were apprehended, including the alleged driver — who was found in the backseat of a car that tried to drive through the search area.
More from an Arlington County Police Department crime report:
RECOVERED STOLEN VEHICLE, 2020-05020209, 9th Street S. at S. Oakland Street. At approximately 11:46 p.m. on May 2, an officer was alerted to an LPR hit on a vehicle previously reported stolen out of Washington, D.C. The officer attempted a traffic stop, however, the driver eluded. The driver eventually stopped the vehicle at 9th Street S. and S. Oakland Street and all four occupants fled on foot. Arriving officers apprehended three of the suspects. A perimeter was established and a helicopter responded to assist with the search for the outstanding suspect. A vehicle entered the perimeter with an individual in the rear seat matching the suspect description. The vehicle was stopped and the fourth suspect was apprehended without incident. Three of the occupants were released and charges are anticipated at a later date. The fourth suspect and alleged driver, Avery Robinson, was arrested and charged with Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, Possession of a Concealed Weapon, Possession of Stolen Goods, Eluding and Obstruction of Justice. He was held on a secured bond.
Numerous locals noted the circling chopper and took to social media to ask what was going on.
Police attempted a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle. The driver refused to stop and the 4 occupants bailed out at S. 9th and Oakland Street. Officers apprehended 3 suspects. The helicopter assisted with the search of the fourth suspect who was eventually taken into custody.
— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) May 3, 2020
N211FX, a Bell 429, is circling over Alcova Heights, Arlington at 1025 feet, speed 87 MPH, squawking 0271, 0.07 miles from Arlington Baptist Church #N211FX https://t.co/M2H9K5BqIb pic.twitter.com/hsbcYwATSD
— Advisory Circular DC (@SkyCirclesDC) May 3, 2020