Police: Man Hid in Woman's Vehicle, Assaulted Her and Caused Crash

Image: Mark Ricks (FCPD)

An Alexandria man is behind bars after he allegedly assaulted a woman during a domestic dispute, then hid in her vehicle and assaulted her again on Thursday morning as she drove away from a local hospital.

Mark Ricks, 29, is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, strangulation, abduction, domestic assault and reckless endangering of a child, according to the Fairfax County police. Additional charges are possible, the police said.

The whole incident began when police responded at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday to the report of an assault at a residence in the area of Fordson Road and Dunbar Street, near Route 1 in the Alexandria area of the county. The officers determined that the victim, a 28-year-old woman, had gotten into an argument with Ricks, according to a police report.

Ricks allegedly assaulted the woman, then fled in her vehicle, the police said. She was transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

While the victim was in the hospital, Ricks arrived there and went looking for her, the police said. Police officers and security personnel searched the area; they didn't find the suspect, but they found the victim’s vehicle and returned it to her.

Later, at about 6 a.m., the victim was driving away from the hospital with her child when she heard and noticed something unusual coming from the rear of the vehicle, the police said. Ricks had been hiding in the back and tried to grab the victim as she was driving.

The struggle caused the victim to crash in the area of Holland Road and Sherwood Hall Lane. As police and rescue personnel arrived on the scene, Ricks fled on foot.

They found him a short time later in the 3000 block of Fordson Court, the police said. Both the victim and Ricks were taken back to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

How To Get Help

The Fairfax County police recommend that you check out these links for safety tips and helpful resources should you find yourself, or someone you know, in this type of situation. Also, they encourage parents to talk to their teenage children about the signs and dangers of domestic violence and stalking:

• Stalking Awareness and Tips
• Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence
• Teen Dating Violence Awareness