A man who struck a police officer with his SUV in Crystal City and fled the scene will spend the next six months behind bars.
Anthony Aquice, 25, was sentenced last week to five years — though four-and-a-half years of that time is suspended, the Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office announced on Monday.
At approximately 4 a.m. on May 17, Aquice struck an ACPD corporal who was conducting a traffic stop in the 1600 block of S. Eads Street in Crystal City.
He failed to stop after the collision, and investigators later determined that he had been “using his phone moments before the crash,” according to prosecutors.
Aquice turned himself in later that day. He ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of failing to stop at the scene of an accident — a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison — in November.
The officer suffered a concussion and a shoulder injury that required surgery, prosecutors said.
“This crash is a sobering reminder of the dangers officers can face each time they step onto the roadway to assist travelers, investigate crimes and conduct traffic enforcement,” ACPD chief Andy Penn said in May.
Aquice will be subject to a five-year probationary period upon his release. If he fails to meet certain behavioral-related criteria, the remainder of his sentence will be triggered.
“But for the diligent investigation in this case, Mr. Aquice may have evaded accountability,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti said in a press release. “For the safety of the community, I am glad he did not.”
There were 56 crashes involving a car striking a pedestrian during the first nine months of 2025, according to county data. Crash data has not yet been released for October, November and December.
