Significant Drug, Weapon Charges Filed Against 4 Suspects: ACPD

ARLINGTON, VA — Four people were arrested in two separate incidents over the last week on what Arlington County police described as "significant" drug and weapon charges.

In the first case, officers working the retail theft detail in the Pentagon City area on Friday received an alert around 4:35 p.m. about a shoplifting in which the suspect left the scene in a vehicle.

After a lookout was broadcast, an officer located the suspect's vehicle and made a traffic stop in the 1400 block of South Joyce Street, according to the incident report.

"During the course of the investigation, it was determined the vehicle was displaying an altered license plate and would be impounded," the report said. "During an inventory search of the vehicle prior to towing, a large quantity of drug paraphernalia, stolen merchandise, handgun ammunition and suspected narcotics were recovered. Three occupants of the vehicle were arrested and charged."

Police charged the driver, identified as 54-year-old Hector Javier Perez Cruz of Alexandria, with two counts of possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with the intent to distribute paraphernalia.

Bernart Rivas, a 26-year-old Arlington man, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and petit larceny, according to the report. The third suspect, identified as 20-year-old Yonatan Bran Martinez of Alexandria, was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of fentanyl and petit larceny.

In the second case, officers responded around 12:31 a.m. on Sunday to investigate a report of trespassing at a hotel in the 1200 block of South Hayes Street in Crystal City, according to the incident report.

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The officers located the suspect inside the hotel and the property asked him to leave. Although the man initially complied, he reentered the property a short time later and was taken into custody, according to police. During the arrest, police recovered suspected narcotics, a firearm and ammunition.

Police arrested 35-year-old Elquan Deloatch of Alexandria and charged him with trespassing, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance, possession of a firearm while in possession of Schedule I/II Controlled Substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, according to police.

Perez Cruz, Rivas, and Martinez were arraigned on Monday morning in Arlington General District court and they each have a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 9, 2026.

All three are facing possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance charges, which are Class 5 felonies. If they are convicted on these charges, they each face a potential 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.

Deloatch was also arraigned in Arlington General District Court on Monday morning, but his preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 12, 2026, according to court documents. Like the three suspects who were arrested in the first case, the possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance charge is Class 5 felony. He faces the same potential sentence as the other three suspects.