Man Charged In Midday Cherrydale Carjacking, Arlington Police Say

ARLINGTON, VA — A Maryland man has been charged in connection with an armed carjacking last month in Arlington's Cherrydale neighborhood, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

Tyler Abrahim Afsar, 23, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was charged with armed carjacking, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and grand larceny auto, police said. He was being held in Washington, D.C., according to police.

The carjacking occurred around 1 p.m. July 14 in the 4100 block of 18th Street North, according to police. An adult woman was sitting inside her parked vehicle when a man pulled up in a pickup truck, got out and approached the driver's side window, police said.

Police allege the man displayed a firearm and demanded the woman's vehicle before stealing items from her purse. After the woman got out of the vehicle, the man allegedly drove away in it.

No injuries were reported.

Police later determined that the pickup truck used by the suspect had been stolen from Prince George's County, Maryland, according to authorities. Arlington officers searched the area after the carjacking but did not locate the suspect.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered After Pursuit

Later that evening, law enforcement officers spotted the woman's stolen vehicle traveling in Prince George's County, police said.

With assistance from the Prince George's County Police Department and U.S. Park Police, authorities recovered the vehicle after a pursuit that ended in a crash in Washington, D.C., according to Arlington police.

Afsar, who police said was driving the vehicle and was its only occupant, was taken into custody by U.S. Park Police. Authorities also recovered a firearm from the vehicle, police said.

Police said investigators determined Afsar was a convicted felon.

Arlington Detectives Obtain Warrants

During the investigation, Arlington detectives obtained evidence that police said linked Afsar to the July 14 carjacking.

Detectives obtained warrants for his arrest on Aug. 5, according to police.

The case remains under investigation.

Anyone with additional information about the case can contact Detective J. Cox at 703-228-0491 or jdcox@arlingtonva.us. Anonymous information can be provided through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).