A teenage girl was chased down and attacked near the 2800 block of South Quincy Street in Arlington on Wednesday afternoon, with police saying the suspect stole the victim's clothing and personal belongings before trying to escape on a public bus. Officers caught up with the bus, pulled it over, and took the suspect into custody, though the ordeal did not end there — police say the teen went on to spit on one officer and assault a different officer once she was inside the patrol cruiser.
According to Arlington, VA Patch, the attack happened at approximately 4:42 p.m. Wednesday, when the teen allegedly assaulted the victim and stole clothing items from her before attempting to flee. Daily Voice reports that Arlington County police were responding to reports of an assault involving two teenage girls who knew each other, and that investigators said the suspect chased and assaulted the other teen before making off with her belongings.
Victim Treated at the Scene as Suspect Tries to Flee
The victim suffered minor injuries and was evaluated by medics on the scene, per the Patch report. Police said the suspect then tried to flee on a public bus, but officers located and stopped the bus before arresting her. Authorities said she refused to cooperate once officers moved in.
The trouble escalated after the arrest. Per the same account, the girl allegedly entered a police cruiser before spitting on one officer and assaulting a different officer, who later self-reported his injuries at the hospital. That officer received treatment for minor injuries, and the suspect is also accused of damaging the inside of the cruiser while in custody.
Multiple Charges Filed, but Suspect's Identity Withheld
Police obtained petitions charging the teen with two counts of assault on police, robbery, assault and battery, destruction of property, and obstruction of justice, the station's report states. Because she is a juvenile, authorities have not released the suspect's name or age.
That lack of identifying information is consistent with how Virginia law treats juvenile law-enforcement records. Under Virginia Code § 16.1-301, inspection of such records is limited to specified parties, including a court that currently has the juvenile before it in a proceeding — a restriction that helps explain why police have kept the teen's identity under wraps as the case moves forward.
