Man Dives Into Trash Can During Wild Fairfax Chase

FAIRFAX, VA—Two men that led Fairfax County Police on a chaotic chase Tuesday were facing numerous charges even before the day unfolded. But a pursuit near two schools and one of them diving into a resident's trash can will result in more charges. Police arrested the men following the pursuit that ended on Sideburn Road. Robinson Secondary School and Oak View Elementary School were on temporary secure the building status during the pursuit.

It turns out the men were supposed to be in court that day for previous charges. Two weeks ago, the pair was pulled over for a traffic violation. The driver, Kerry Howard Junior, tried to drive away but was arrested after eventually stopping the car. Howard was charged with driving on a revoked license, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and eluding.

The passenger, Keevin Allen, was arrested after running away when officers pulled over the car he was riding in. He was charged with obstruction, false identification to law enforcement, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and served with two active warrants.

Howard was reportedly caught right away on Tuesday, but Allen continued the chase into a residential neighborhood.

Resident Cathy Daniel witnessed the whole bizarre encounter go down outside her house. First it was helicopters in the distance. Then she saw police cars go by and K-9 units across the street. Suddenly the suspect came from the direction of her yard and dove into her trash can.

She recalls in a letter to Police Chief Ed Roessler Jr. how an officer released a K9, who bit the man's foot sticking out of the trash can. The officer ended up calling the K9 back and convincing the suspect to lift the trash can lid and talk. Daniel snapped a photo of the officer kneeling, holding his gun up and restraining his dog, while talking to the man in the trash can.

Additional police responded on scene, tipped the trash can over, handcuffed Allen and took him to a waiting ambulance.

In her letter, Daniel praised police for how they resolved the pursuit. "Watching this officer's calm, professional handling of this scary situation was very reassuring," she wrote. "I observed the officers' actions and demeanor while restraining and handcuffing the man, and it was polite and professional."

Image via Cathy Daniel, used with permission