Fairfax County Police announced on March 21 that officers arrested a wanted man after he sprayed officers with bear spray during a pursuit in Hybla Valley.
The incident began on March 20 when officers received an alert from a License Plate Reader connected to a vehicle associated with multiple felony warrants. Officers found the vehicle in the 8100 block of Richmond Highway and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled. The Real Time Crime Center, Fairfax 1 helicopter, and Virginia State Police assisted as the pursuit continued.
Police said they stopped the fleeing vehicle using a Precision Immobilization Technique maneuver on northbound I-495 in Alexandria. When officers gave commands to the driver, identified as Rodney Johnson, age 46 of Arlington, he sprayed them with bear spray. Johnson was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Two juveniles who were inside his vehicle were also exposed to bear spray and taken to a hospital as a precaution. Several officers suffered minor injuries from the bear spray but were treated at the scene.
Johnson was then transported to Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where police served him with outstanding warrants including robbery, grand larceny, possession of stolen property with intent to sell, conspiracy charges related to larceny, probation violations, failure to appear in court, driving offenses including without license plates or revoked license status from other jurisdictions. He also faces new charges: felony speed to elude police, five counts of assault on law enforcement by caustic substance (bear spray), two counts of felony child endangerment, drug possession charges for Schedule I/II narcotics, obstruction of justice with force and obtaining money under false pretenses. Johnson is being held without bond.
Officers are asking anyone who may have information about this case to contact Mount Vernon District Station at 703-360-8400 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Solvers by phone or web.
