Suspect Leads Police on Chase Into Maryland

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- On Friday, shortly after 3 p.m., the Virginia State Police received a “hit” from an automatic license plate reader (LPR) regarding a vehicle that had been taken in a carjacking, according to a report Tuesday by Fairfax County Police.

A lookout was broadcast to area law enforcement agencies and the vehicle was spotted by an observant Fairfax County police officer on patrol in the Mount Vernon District, according to police.

The officer got behind the suspect vehicle which then abruptly made an illegal U-turn, police said. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to initiate a traffic stop near Richmond Highway and Southgate Drive (see map below), but the vehicle sped off and a pursuit ensued, police said.

Pursuit into Maryland

The vehicle continued over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into Maryland. Officers were given approval by their supervisor to follow, as the crime met FCPD pursuit policy criteria, police said. Here’s more about the chase, from FCPD:

At one point the officer tried to block the vehicle in, however it maneuvered away. The officer cautiously pushed his cruiser into the suspect vehicle, moving it to the right curb, where a tire blew out. This however did not stop the vehicle and it drove off again.

The officer’s cruiser became temporarily disabled and a second officer took control of the pursuit. The suspect could no longer control the vehicle due to the damaged tire and stopped on Indian Head Highway. The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot, with the officer close behind him. After a short foot pursuit, the driver was apprehended, as well as two passengers that remained in the vehicle.

The driver was identified as Christopher Wells, 30, of Temple Hills, Maryland. He was wanted for robbery in Maryland and had a suspended driver’s license. Officers from the Prince George’s County Police Department responded and took control of the scene and all who were arrested. Wells was transported to Fort Washington Hospital for a previous injury that he exacerbated when he ran from officers.

There are now warrants on file in Fairfax County for speed to elude and no operator’s license.

No officers were injured.