A man was charged with robbery and carjacking after a shoplifting attempt turned violent at a business in Cherrydale yesterday (Monday) afternoon.
Police were dispatched to the 4000 block of Langston Blvd around 2:30 p.m. after a report of a larceny, according to the Arlington County Police Department.
The suspect entered the business — an auto parts store, according to scanner traffic — and engaged an employee in conversation about purchasing merchandise before grabbing items from the counter and leaving without paying, police said.
The suspect tried to flee but struggled with an employee outside the store, then had his car blocked in by a second employee, police said, leading to the suspect pulling the employee out of the car and stealing his keys.
After all that, the suspect fled the scene on foot before police arrived. No injuries were reported.
A short time later, the suspect returned to the scene and resisted an officer’s attempt to detain him, ACPD said. He was taken into custody after additional officers arrived.
The suspect, a 32-year-old D.C. man, was charged with robbery, carjacking, shoplifting and obstruction of justice. He was held without bond.
The full crime report from ACPD is below.
ROBBERY, 2026-04070117, 4000 block of Langston Boulevard. At approximately 2:29 p.m. on April 7, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect entered the business and engaged an employee in conversation about purchasing merchandise. The suspect then grabbed the merchandise from the counter and allegedly exited the store without payment. As the suspect began to enter his vehicle to flee, he struggled with the employee outside of the business. The suspect then approached the vehicle of a second employee who was blocking him in. The suspect pulled the employee out of his vehicle and stole his keys. The suspect ultimately fled the scene on foot prior to police arrival. No injuries were reported. A short time later, the suspect returned to the scene and as an officer attempted to detain him, he resisted arrest until he was subsequently taken into custody following the arrival of additional officers. [The suspect], 32, of Washington, DC, was arrested and charged with Robbery, Carjacking, Shoplifting and Obstruction of Justice. He was held without bond.
