What started as officers trying to track down a wanted man on Saturday turned into a chaotic Beltway pursuit, with a 46-year-old Arlington resident accused of blasting Fairfax County officers with bear spray before the chase ended in Hybla Valley, according to police.
Investigators say the driver was ultimately stopped after officers used a PIT maneuver on the northbound I-495 Beltway, then located the vehicle again in the 8100 block of Richmond Highway. Multiple officers were treated at the scene after being hit with the spray. Two juveniles who were exposed were taken to a local hospital as a precaution. The suspect was arrested and transported to a local hospital with injuries that were described as not life threatening.
How the chase unfolded
Fairfax County police say the pursuit kicked off after officers learned the driver was wanted on multiple felony warrants and an alert went out at about 1:39 p.m. The vehicle was first spotted in the 8100 block of Richmond Highway in Hybla Valley, then tracked onto I-495 northbound with help from Virginia State Police and airborne units.
Police used a PIT maneuver in Alexandria to stop the car, according to WUSA9.
Injuries and arrest
"Multiple officers were injured by bear spray and were treated on the scene," police said. Two juveniles who were exposed were taken to a local hospital as a precaution.
Fairfax County police identified the driver as 46-year-old Rodney Johnson of Arlington. He was arrested and transported to a nearby hospital, where his injuries were described as not life threatening. Authorities have not yet said what charges might follow from the incident, according to WUSA9.
Air support and multi-jurisdiction response
Fairfax County's Helicopter Division, known as Fairfax 1, provides aerial support for vehicle tracking and pursuits and was among the resources used in this case. The division's page outlines the unit's role in assisting ground officers during time-sensitive responses and traffic incidents and notes its coordination with state and local partners.
For more on the unit and its responsibilities, see the Fairfax County Police Department's Fairfax 1 page at the Fairfax County Police Department.
