Robbery Investigation Nets 6, Including 1 On Narcotics Charge: ACPD

ARLINGTON, VA — A 20-year-old man is facing a narcotics charge, after he was arrested as part of robbery investigation that led to five additional arrests Sunday night in the Buckingham area, according to authorities.

Officers responded around 11 p.m. to investigate the report of a robbery in the 4200 block of 2nd Road North. They determined that the victim was standing outside when someone assaulted him and took his phone, according to police.

"The victim followed the suspect and observed him enter an apartment through a window and called police," according to the incident report. "Responding officers located the suspect, along with several other individuals, inside a vacant apartment. Police issued commands for all occupants to exit the premises when the suspect fled the scene on foot."

After a pursuit on foot, police apprehended the suspect, whom they identified as Erastus Githinji of an undetermined address, in the area of North Oakland Street and North Pershing Drive, the report said. During the arrest, police recovered the victim's cellphone and suspected narcotics.

Githinji was charged with robbery, unlawful entry, possession of Schedule I/II controlled substance and obstruction of justice, according to ACPD. He was then held without bond.

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During the investigation, a female suspect, identified as 32-year-old Vaniqua Sanders of Falls Church, ignored the officers' commands and gave false identifying information, according to police. She was taken into custody, but sustained minor, self-inflicted injuries.

Sanders was taken to a nearby hospital to be evaluated. Once she was cleared, police charged her with unlawful entry, obstruction of justice and identity theft, according to police.

Four other people had exited the residence when the officers issued commands: 46-year-old Belinda Pettus of Arlington; 47-year-old Franklin Washington of Arlington; 28-year-old John McCoy-Adams of Arlington; and 24-year-old Linda Menjivar of Falls Church. After being arrested and charged with unlawful entry, they were released summonses.

Githinji was arraigned Monday morning in Arlington General District Court and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 25, 2026, according to court records.

Both the robbery using force and possession of a Schedule I/II substance charges are Class 5 felonies. If Githinji is found guilty on either of these charges, he faces a possible sentence of one to 10 years in prison or up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500, under the Code of Virginia. The remaining charges were Class 1 misdemeanors.