Alexandria Man Grabbed Arlington Officer's Firearm: Police Report

ARLINGTON, VA — A 30-year-old Alexandria man is facing multiple charges, including assault on and attempting to disarm a police officer, in connection with a larceny that occurred March 22 at a business in the Court House area.

Officers responded around 6:10 p.m. for the report of a man taking items without paying at a business in the 2000 block of Clarendon Blvd. Police broadcast a lookout and another officer located a man near Clarendon Boulevard and N. Rhodes Street matching the description of the larceny suspect.

The man ignored the officer's commands to stop and tried to leave the area, according to police. When the officer tried to stop the man, he resisted, grabbing the handle of the officer's firearm and kicking him. The officer used pepper spray to stop the man, taking him into custody.

The man, whom police identified as Steven Toussaint of Alexandria, was taken to a nearby hospital for a medical evaluation, according to police. The officer received minor injuries during the scuffle with the suspect, but they did not require treatment.

Through their investigation, detectives linked Toussaint to earlier incident in which he took merchandise from the same business, according to police.

Toussaint was charged with assault on police, attempted disarming a police officer, two counts of petit larceny and obstruction of justice. He was then held without bond.