Auto theft suspects arrested on Heritage Drive following police pursuit

Huge police presence on Heritage Drive. [Photos by John Carland]

Four suspects were arrested Monday afternoon in Annandale following a police chase that ended in a fire at Heritage Drive near Little River Turnpike. The incident tied up traffic as officers from several agencies searched the surrounding area after the suspects fled.

Virginia State Police initiated the chase after discovering the suspects in a stolen car on the beltway. They pursued the vehicle as it exited onto Gallows Road, said Fairfax County Police spokesperson Monica Meeks.

The suspects lost control of their vehicle and crashed into four cars parked on Heritage Drive. Their car burst into flames, and they fled into a wooded area.

State police notified FCPD at about 4:21 p.m., Meeks said. Police from the Mason and West Springfield police stations, the K-9 unit, the motor unit, and fire and rescue personnel responded, setting up road closures as they searched for the suspects.

Four males were arrested – two African-Americans and two Hispanics – and were transported to the Adult Detention Center. Two are juveniles. One suspect was treated at a hospital for minor injuries and released.

FCPD won’t release the names of the suspects until they are officially charged and won’t release the names of the juveniles.

“We saw the car the police were chasing sideswipe a couple of cars on Heritage Drive and then bounce into the middle of the street,” reports a witness who was stuck in traffic on Heritage. “Then two men jumped out and ran into the woods behind Heritage Woods Way. About 30 seconds after that, another man jumped out and ran into the woods. Next their car broke into flames and police in strength began to arrive.”

The driver remained stuck “until the police brought out in handcuffs a young man—late teens, early twenties. A fire truck and emergency vehicle also arrived,” he said. “It was a real zoo for 30-45 minutes.”