A 19-year-old man is behind bars after Arlington detectives say he pulled off a rapid-fire series of armed robberies at multiple county businesses over two late-February nights. Investigators allege he flashed a gun, demanded cash from workers and customers, and tried to hide his face during the holdups, ultimately tying four separate cases to a single suspect, as per WUSA9.
As reported by WUSA9, Arlington County Police arrested 19-year-old Carlos Lopez Sparks of Centreville on March 20 after linking the incidents. Prosecutors have hit him with 20 criminal counts, including eight counts of robbery, eight counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, and four counts of wearing a mask to conceal his identity.
Robbery Timeline and Locations
According to investigators, the robberies unfolded over two consecutive nights, Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, and targeted convenience and retail businesses.
On Feb. 24, officers were called to two incidents on the 4100 block of South Four Mile Run. In one case, a person allegedly pointed a gun and ordered an employee to open the register. In the second, a suspect confronted a customer but left when the victim did not have cash, per Arlington County Police.
The next evening, the pattern continued. A business on the 4200 block of North Pershing Drive reported cash stolen from a register, and a separate business on the 300 block of North Glebe Road told police a suspect pointed a gun at employees shortly before 8:20 p.m., according to Arlington County Police.
Arrest and Detention
As reported by WUSA9, detectives say they tied together evidence from the four scenes and identified Lopez Sparks as the suspect, taking him into custody on March 20. He is being held without bond at the Arlington County Detention Facility.
Police Requests and Next Steps
Arlington County Police say the investigation is still active and are asking anyone who witnessed the incidents or who has video from the area to contact detectives. Officers urged residents to call the department’s non-emergency line or submit tips through the department’s online portal to help with the case.
Evidence gathered so far will be turned over to prosecutors as the case moves toward formal court proceedings, according to Arlington County Police.
