Cherrydale Carjacking Suspect Arrested After Returning To Crime Scene: Police

ARLINGTON, VA — A 32-year-old District man was arrested Tuesday after he returned to the same Cherrydale business he had reportedly stolen merchandise from earlier the same day, according to authorities.

Officers responded around 2:30 p.m. to a business in the 4000 block of Langston Boulevard to investigate the report of a theft.

Investigators said a man entered the business and struck up a conversation with an employee about purchasing some merchandise. The man grabbed merchandise from the counter and fled the store without paying, according to the daily crime report.

"As the suspect began to enter his vehicle to flee, he struggled with the employee outside of the business," the police report said. "The suspect then approached the vehicle of a second employee, who was blocking him in. The suspect pulled the employee out of his vehicle and stole his keys."

Eventually, the man left the area on foot before police arrived. No injuries were reported.

"A short time later, the suspect returned to the scene and as an officer attempted to detain him, he resisted arrest until he was subsequently taken into custody following the arrival of additional officers," the report says.

Police arrested and charged Reginald Carthen of Washington, D.C., with robbery, carjacking, shoplifting and obstruction of justice. He was held without bond.

Carthen was arraigned at 9 a.m. on Wednesday in Arlington General District Court and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on June 11, according to court documents.

Both the carjacking by force and robbery charges are felonies and the other charges are misdemeanors.

The most serious charge is the carjacking by force, which is a Class 5 felony. If Carthen is convicted on this charge, he faces a potential sentence of one to 10 years in prison or up to 12 months in jail and fine of up to $2,500, under the Code of Virginia.