A 25-year-old Manassas man is facing a stack of charges after police say he crashed his car in Woodbridge early on Halloween morning, then assaulted an officer twice — once during field sobriety tests and again at the jail. Christopher Sandoval Polanco was taken into custody after the single-vehicle wreck and now faces DUI, obstruction, refusal, and two counts of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer.
According to Potomac Local, officers responded to the crash at Dale Boulevard and Keytone Road in Woodbridge on Oct. 31 at 3:18 a.m. Daily Voice, citing the Prince William County Police Department, reported the crash occurred at 3:15 a.m. near Dale Boulevard and Keystone Road — a discrepancy in both the timing and the spelling of the cross street that the two outlets did not reconcile. Police determined that Polanco was intoxicated at the scene, per the Potomac Local report.
Sobriety Test Turns Physical
Police said Polanco became aggressive during sobriety testing and assaulted an officer before he was detained, the outlet's report states. The confrontation didn't end there — officers say he kicked an officer again at the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center before finally being secured. The officer involved reported no injuries, according to the same account.
The alleged attacks led to a lengthy charge sheet. Potomac Local reports Polanco was charged with two counts of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer, one count of obstruction, one count of driving under the influence, and one count of refusal of a blood or breath test.
What Refusal Charges Require
Virginia's refusal law lays out a specific process for cases like this one. Under Code of Virginia § 18.2-268.3, the arresting officer must certify under oath before a magistrate that the defendant refused to provide a blood or breath sample, that the officer read the required portion of the form to the person, that the refusal came after that reading, and how many qualifying prior convictions, if any, the person has within the past 10 years.
As of Monday afternoon, Polanco's next court date remained pending and his bond status was unavailable, the police blotter report notes.
