Crime & Safety
Car Theft Investigation Leads To Arrest In Stafford: Police
One person was arrested on Friday in connection with a pair of vehicle thefts. Another suspect evaded police and is still at large.
STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — Authorities in Stafford identified a pair of suspects accused of stealing vehicles on Friday. One suspect, Justin Dunmore, was arrested on Friday. Another suspect, Keith Smith McCord, evaded capture and is still at large, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office.
On Friday night, deputies located a pair of stolen Toyota RAV4s parked in the area of Thomas Jefferson Place in southern Stafford County, the sheriff's office said in a report. Around 7 p.m., the deputies parked nearby to monitor stolen vehicles.
Within minutes, deputies saw a pair of men exit a nearby townhouse and enter one of the stolen SUVs. One deputy used his vehicle to block the suspects in and prevent them from leaving while other deputies arrived on the scene, police said.
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The deputy said that the suspects began to flee on foot towards a tree line when he activated his emergency lights. A nearby K-9 unit began to track the suspects, according to authorities.
The K-9 followed the trail of one suspect through the woods, passing his discarded shoes on the way. The K-9 and his handler saw the suspect trying to climb a steep hill near Garnett Way.
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The handler told the suspect to surrender. When the suspect continued to flee up the hill, the deputy released the K-9, who apprehended the fleeing man, according to the police report. The suspect, who authorities later identified as Dunmore, received medical treatment for the dog bite.
Dunmore was charged with multiple counts of possession of stolen property and one count of obstruction of justice. He was also served an outstanding warrant from Shenandoah County. Additional charges are still pending regarding the thefts of the vehicles, police said. Dunmore is being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Deputies identified the second suspect as Keith Smith McCord, a 26-year-old man from Stafford. He evaded authorities on Friday, and police are asking for the public's help locating him.
Anyone with more information about his whereabouts can contact the Stafford County Sheriff's Office at 540-658-4400.
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