Potential Jail Time For Woman Who Kicked VA State Trooper: ACPD

ARLINGTON, VA — A 25-year-old woman is facing multiple charges, including assault on a law enforcement officer, after she cut a man’s tire with a knife early Saturday morning in the Foxcroft Heights area, according to authorities.

Officers from the Arlington County Police Department responded around 1:47 a.m. for the report of a dispute in the 1500 block of Columbia Pike, according to police.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a woman and man who knew each other were in the parking lot of a residential building when the woman hit the tire of the man’s vehicle with a knife, according to police. She then ran off.

After a lookout was broadcast, one of the officers, with the help of Virginia State Police, located a woman who matched the description of the suspect in the area of Columbia Pike and S. Ode Street, according to the incident report.

The suspect, identified as Janae Lancaster of an undetermined address, refused commands to stop and kicked a trooper, who was helping to take her into custody, according to police. Following a brief struggle, they were able to arrest Lancaster.

During the investigation, police recovered suspected narcotics and medics treated Lancaster at the scene, according to police.

ACPD charged Lancaster with assault and battery on a law enforcement officer, destruction of property, obstruction of justice, public intoxication and possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance, according to the incident report.

On Monday morning, Lancaster was arraigned in Arlington General District Court, according to court documents. She has a bond hearing set for Tuesday morning and a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 8.

The assault on a law enforcement officer charge is a Class 6 felony, which carries a potential sentence of imprisonment of one to five years, or confinement in jail for up to 12 months, along with a potential fine of up to $2,500, under the Code of Virginia.

The possession charge is a Class 5 felony in Virginia. If Lancaster is convicted, she could be facing a prison sentence of one to 10 years.

The resisting arrest without force and the destruction of property of less than $1,000 in value are each Class 1 misdemeanors, in Virginia law. Lancaster could be sentenced up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500, under Virginia law.

For the public intoxication charge, which is a Class 4 misdemeanor, Lancaster faces a fine of $250 but no jail time, under the Code of Virginia.