UPDATE: Police Arrest Suspect in Burglary, Rape

PHOTO: Edwin Ponce Martinez, 22; photo courtesy of FCPD

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FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- An arrest has been made in a burglary and sex assault that took place last weekend in the Mount Vernon area, police said Saturday. Here’s the police account of how the arrest was made late Friday night:

Officers from the Fairfax County Police Department’s Mount Vernon Neighborhood Patrol Unit were in the area of Lockheed Boulevard and Richmond Highway around 11 p.m. Friday checking on leads to locate the wanted suspect in the recent burglary and sex assault, according to a news release from FCPD.

The officers, commonly referred to as the “Bike Team,” noticed a vehicle parked on a nearby service road with multiple people sitting inside, police said. They approached the vehicle to investigate the suspicious activity and immediately noticed one of the passengers was Edwin Ponce Martinez, according to FCPD. Police say he also went by the name “Javier.”

Ponce Martinez, 22, was immediately taken into custody, according to police. He was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged with burglary, rape and providing false identification to a law enforcement officer, according to police.

Chief Edwin C. Roessler attributed an expedient resolution to this case to each officer and detective of his department and an engaged and supportive community. “A suspect was identified and apprehended within days of the initial report,” he said in Saturday’s news release.

Roessler continued, “This could not have been done so efficiently without strong collaboration and teamwork among our patrol officers, Major Crimes Division detectives, proactive Bike Team officers and our highly engaged community.

“Their effort, combined with the power of social media to keep residents informed, brought this case to a successful close. This kind of dedication, diligence and effort is what our community deserves. I commend each officer and detective for their steadfast efforts.”

Detectives from the Fairfax County Police Sex Crimes Unit had identified the suspect in the burglary and sexual assault case that occurred last Saturday in the 8400 block of Blankenship Street (see map below).

Two warrants were obtained charging Ponce Martinez, of no fixed address, with burglary and rape, police said.

Also read: Police Release Sketch of Suspect in Sex Assault, Break-In