MD Man Faces Drug Charges After Fleeing VA State Trooper: Report

ARLINGTON, VA — A Maryland man who eluded an Alexandria City police officer Thursday afternoon was arrested in Arlington a short time later, following a pursuit by a Virginia State Police trooper, according to authorities.

Around 4:15 p.m., the trooper tried to stop a vehicle on Interstate 395 northbound that had earlier fled from the Alexandria officer, but the driver refused to stop, according to the incident report. A pursuit was then initiated.

"The suspect vehicle exited Interstate 395 at Shirlington Circle," according to the report. "It then turned off of Shirlington onto Arlington Mill Drive. The pursuit then continued from Arlington Mill Drive to South Randolph Street, where the suspect vehicle struck an uninvolved vehicle. The suspect then abandoned the vehicle in a nearby parking garage, and attempted to flee on foot."

With the help of officers from the Arlington County and Alexandria police departments, the suspect was apprehended a short time later, according to the state police.

The suspect, identified as Rashad Smith, of Baltimore, Maryland, was charged with felony eluding, felony hit and run, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police. He was then taken to the Arlington County Adult Detention Center.