Car Theft In Stafford Leads To Police Pursuit In Spotsylvania: Police

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A car that was stolen outside of a Stafford convenience store on Monday morning was crashed in Spotsylvania County after a police pursuit hours later, according to a report from the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. Two men, Gary Wood, Jr. and Jerry Howell, Jr., were arrested and charged in connection with the theft.

A Stafford County deputy was called to Mr. B's convenience store on Warrenton Road around 5:45 a.m. on Monday. The victim said that she left he car running and unlocked while she went inside the business to purchase a cup of coffee.

The victim said she witnessed the theft and saw two men enter the vehicle and drive away. She also said that the driver gave her the middle finger as he drove away, according to the police report.

Deputies entered the stolen vehicle into a police database and identified the suspects as Wood and Howell based on the description provided by witnesses. The two were involved in a disturbance at the Red Roof Inn prior to the car theft, police said.

Deputies in Spotsylvania County said they located the stolen car on I-95 later in the morning. The deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the men in the stolen car fled into a construction zone near mile marker 130, according to the report from the sheriff's office. The car crashed in the construction zone.

One of the men in the car, Wood, was immediately taken into custody. Howell fled the area on foot after the crash, authorities said.

The Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office Drone Team responded to assist in the search for Howell while the Fredericksburg Police Department established a command post, because the theft and pursuit involved all three jurisdictions.

Members of the Fredericksburg Police Department located Howell just after 12 p.m. on Monday inside the Wegman's grocery store, police said.

Wood and Howell are both being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. Wood is charged with one count of grand larceny, according to online court records. Howell is charged with grand larceny and shoplifting.

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