Man Charged With Pepper Spraying People On Columbia Pike: Police

ARLINGTON, VA — A man pepper sprayed several people along Columbia Pike in Arlington on Wednesday, sending three people to the hospital for treatment of injuries, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

The man, Wade Westmoreland, 38, was charged with four counts of malicious wounding by a caustic agent and two counts of assault and battery. He was held in the Arlington County jail without bond, according to police.

At about 11:35 a.m. on Wednesday, police were called to Columbia Pike and S. Wayne Street to investigate the incidents. The learned that a male suspect had approached a vehicle at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Veitch Street, hit the drier and then sprayed the driver and the car’s passenger with what was believed to be pepper spray, police said.

The man then continued walking along Columbia Pike, where he approached two women walking in the area. He assaulted one of the women and sprayed both of them with what was believed to be pepper spray, according to police.

Westmoreland was located by police and taken into custody without incident, police said.

Medics responded to the scene and evaluated the four victims. Three of them were taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries from the assaults and pepper spray, according to police.