Drug, Weapon Charges Levied Against Alexandria Man: ACPD

ARLINGTON, VA — A 37-year-old Alexandria man is facing drug and weapon charges after police recovered a firearm and suspected narcotics during a traffic stop Thursday night in Green Valley, according to authorities.

Around 7:06 p.m. an Arlington County police officer made a traffic stop after spotting an improperly registered vehicle in the 2400 block of South Lowell Street, according to the incident report. An investigation revealed that the driver had a suspended license.

Searching the vehicle before it was towed, the officer found a concealed firearm, according to the report. The officer recovered suspected narcotics during a search of the suspect, who was identified as Arnu Diggs III of Alexandria.

Diggs was arrested and charged with possession of a schedule I/II controlled substance, possession of a firearm while in possession of narcotics, possession of a concealed firearm, possession of narcotics by prisoner, driving an improperly registered vehicle and driving on a suspended license, according to police. He was then held without bond.

Diggs was arraigned in Arlington County District Court on Friday morning and returned to court on Monday morning for a bond hearing, according to court documents. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 12. Diggs remains in custody.

Both the prisoner in possession of marijuana/Schedule III substance and possession of Schedule I/II substances are Class 5 felonies. If convicted on either of these charges, Diggs faces a potential sentence of one to 10 years in prison, or confinement in jail for up to 12 months and a fine of up to $2,500, under the Code of Virginia.

The possession of a gun on a person in possession of Schedule I/II substances is a Class 6 felony, which is punishable by one to five years in prison or up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500, under Virginia law.