Police Used Robot In Quest to Apprehend Wanted Man

When Fairfax County Police officers finally apprehended a wanted man who had refused to leave a home on Camden street on Friday they did so with a little help from the department’s robot.

During the course of the nearly 11- hour ordeal, police officers spotted a structure taped to the door. Not knowing whether it was a harmless object or a dangerous explosive, the officers sent the robot to investigate. It turned out to be several nine voltage batteries taped to the door. The house was located on Camden Street between Linton and Stratford lanes.

The robot, which is about the size of a luggage truck, boats mechanical arms and a camera, which transmits video footage to the robot’s operator.

Police say officers first approached the man at around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday and apprehended him at around 12.23 a.m. on Friday, after he exited the house through the rear door. 

Police have identified the man as William D. Green, 60, who was arrested in Arlington for failure to appear in the court for felony offense.  He was taken to a Fairfax County jail. Police say no weapons were involved in apprehending the individual.

Police said officers were at local schools facilitating the dismissal of students.  Fairfax County Police issued a Secure in Building notice for Fort Hunt Elementary School, according to an email sent to parents from the school system. The notice required that all outside doors were secured and all outside activities were cancelled.  

“To insure that no students were walking home or playing in the area of the situation, teachers were sent to key areas to monitor the dismissal.  Our extra precautions resulted in a later than usual dismissal,” the email said.

At around 3 p.m. on Thursday, Stratford Landing Elementary School sent parents a note that said students riding the bus SG 51 would remain at school until clearance was given for the bus to take the children to the Fort Hunt area.