Crime & Safety
K9 Officer Apprehends Fredericksburg Robbery Suspect
A Fredericksburg K9 officer apprehended a 39-year-old man accused of robbing a business on Emancipation Highway on Tuesday, police say.
FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A 39-year-old Fredericksburg man was apprehended by a police K9 officer on Tuesday as part of an investigation into a robbery at a city business, according to authorities.
Fredericksburg police were alerted just after 3:30 p.m. of robbery in progress at a business in the 500 block of Emancipation Highway.
"The clerk stated the suspect came into the store, implied he had a weapon, and demanded money," according to the incident report. "The clerk retreated to an office and alerted authorities. After stealing items from the business, the suspect fled on foot."
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A K9 unit and additional officers responded to the area and located the suspect behind a dumpster at a nearby business, according to police. After the suspect failed to comply with law enforcement commands, he was apprehended by K-9 Rudi and his handler.
The suspect, who was identified as James William Brown of Fredericksburg, was taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries, according to police. Once he was cleared, Brown was taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail, where he was held without bond. Brown is facing charges of attempted robbery, larceny, and obstruction of justice.
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On Thursday morning, Brown was arraigned in Fredericksburg General District Court and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on March 10, according to court documents. He remains in custody.
The obstruction and larceny charges are Class 1 misdemeanors, which each carry a potential sentence of up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of $2,500, under the Code of Virginia.
The robbery charge is a Class 6 felony. If convicted on this charge, Brown faces a possible sentence of one to five years in prison, up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of $2,500, according to Virginia law.
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