A 56-year-old Virginia Beach man is facing a stack of criminal charges after police say he smashed his way into a business in the Kellam area, grabbed a pack of lighters, then hit a second store for cigarettes before trying to pedal away on a bicycle. Chris Jones was arrested on October 29 following a report of a man breaking into a local business, and police say the chase that followed only added to his legal troubles.
According to 13News Now, Jones was charged with burglary, larceny, shoplifting, obstruction of justice and reckless biking, with additional charges still pending. Details of the alleged crime spree were attributed to a Virginia Beach Police Department Facebook post, which described Jones throwing a brick through a building's door before making off with a pack of lighters.
A Second Business Hit Minutes Later
Police say Jones did not stop there. Just minutes after the first break-in, he allegedly stole cigarettes from another business in the same area, according to the same account. From there, he reportedly tried to make his escape on a bicycle, a detail that would end up factoring into the reckless biking charge now on his record.
The getaway attempt didn't go smoothly. Per the post's account, Jones struck a driver with the bicycle while fleeing, then resisted arrest when officers caught up with him. Officers ultimately used a Taser to take him into custody, the report states.
Where the Case Stands Now
The Virginia Beach Police Department arrested Jones on October 29 in connection with the Kellam-area incidents, and the case remains open as additional charges are pending. It is not clear from available information what further charges might be added or when.
The reckless biking charge touches on a provision the City of Virginia Beach has highlighted in its own public guidance. Per the City of Virginia Beach, City Code § 7-60 makes it illegal to ride an e-bike or regular bicycle recklessly, at an unsafe speed, or in a way that could endanger a person or property. The city's published guidance does not address how that code applies to Jones's specific case.
