Police: Car Nearly Struck Officer After It Was Tampered With

A man has been arrested after allegedly tampering with a vehicle in what appears to be a domestic dispute. The car nearly struck a police officer and a cruiser, according to Prince William County Police.

Gregory Lewis Coates, 55, of the 2200 block of Old Horner Rd, is charged with attempted malicious wounding. He is being held without bond.

At 9 p.m. Monday, the suspect and a woman, 51, of Woodbridge, were in a verbal altercation while driving that continued after they arrived at Sentara Lake Ridge, at 12825 Minnieville Road. The woman was being treated for an unrelated injury.

The suspect was asked to leave. Before leaving the parking lot, police believe Coates tampered with the engine of the woman’s vehicle.

While interviewing the woman, police asked her to move the vehicle because it was blocking traffic, according to police spokesperson Officer Jonathan Perok.

“When the victim got into the vehicle to move it, the vehicle became stuck in reverse position and accelerated backwards nearly striking an officer and a cruiser,” he said. ”Officers were able to control the vehicle to a stop and checked under the hood. The engine compartment appeared to have been tampered with and several wires were noticeably torn out of the vehicle.”

Coates was taken into custody at his home.