A 19-year-old has been arrested in connection with a series of armed robberies in Arlington last month.
Carlos Lopez Sparks, a Centreville resident, faces a total of 20 charges stemming from four incidents on Feb. 24 and 25 — where he is accused of threatening store employees and customers with a gun and demanding cash before fleeing the scene.
More from a press release from the Arlington County Police Department:
- At approximately 7:56 p.m. on February 24, police were dispatched to the 4100 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive for the report of an armed robbery. The masked suspect entered the business, displayed a firearm, demanded the employee open the cash register and stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the business and the employee. The suspect then directed his attention towards a customer and demanded cash while displaying the firearm. When the customer told the suspect they did not have cash, the suspect fled the scene.
- On February 24, following the above-mentioned incident, the masked suspect entered a neighboring business in the 4100 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive, displayed a firearm and demanded the employee open the cash register. The suspect stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and fled the scene.
- At approximately 8:19 p.m. on February 25, police were dispatched to the 300 block of N. Glebe Road for the report of a suspicious person. The masked suspect entered the business, approached two employees, threatened them with a firearm and demanded cash. The employees ran from the scene and the suspect fled on foot without cash.
- On February 25, following the above-mentioned incident, the masked suspect entered a neighboring business in the 4200 block of N. Pershing Drive, displayed a firearm and stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the register. The suspect then directed his attention towards two customers and demanded cash while displaying the firearm. After determining the customers did not have cash, the suspect fled the scene.
Sparks was arrested at his home on Friday following assistance from the FBI, Fairfax County Police Department and Herndon Police Department.
He has been charged with eight counts of robbery, eight counts of using a firearm in commission of a felony and four counts of wearing a mask to conceal identity. He is being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility, according to police.
