Richmond.com
Richmond, Va. police arrested a 22-year-old man suspected of firing at two separate officers during a six-hour manhunt near Dakota Avenue that required police to use technological alternatives in order to take the suspect into custody early Wednesday morning. The episode began with officers attempting to serve the suspect with an outstanding warrant of destruction of property, which is a misdemeanor charge.
According to police reports, the suspect fired a hand gun at an officer who was in her vehicle as another officer approached him to serve the warrant in the 1700 block of Colorado Avenue on Tuesday night. The officer in the car was not injured but, according Richmond Police Chief Andre Parker, the bullet struck near the squad car’s gas tank, which, he said, “could have been a disastrous situation.”
Two hours later, while officers were still processing the shooting scene, the suspect returned to the area, this time firing at a K-9 unit’s rear window with a shotgun. An officer and dog were in the car but neither was injured. Once again, the suspect was able to elude the police on foot.
“I have to tell you, I felt like our officers were under attack,” Parker said at his weekly media briefing Wednesday. “Each and every day, our officers face dangerous and life-threatening situations. Police officers can easily become victims of the savage behavior that they see on the streets everyday.
“In this situation a violent criminal showed total disregard for the law and threatened the lives of those who protect the citizens of Richmond.”
Shortly before 2 a.m., Parker called in the SWAT team and the aviation unit. The police plane, which Richmond Police share with Henrico and Chesterfield counties, is equipped with a FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) system. The FLIR system enables the plane to “see” heat signatures. The FLIR system has been at the police department’s disposal for the past four months. In addition, ITT night vision devices were also used in the manhunt.
Local residents and school officials at Maymont Elementary and Amelia Street School were alerted about the manhunt at 4:30 a.m. Both schools opened an hour late Wednesday.
At 5:44 a.m. a local resident reported to police that he saw someone running through the area. The information was quickly relayed and the FLIR system was put into action.
“Within minutes, at 5:51 a.m., the aviation unit, with its FLIR system, detected a heat source in the Mt. Cavalry Cemetery,” Parker explained. “There should have been no heat source in the Mt. Cavalry Cemetery.”
The SWAT team quickly apprehended the suspect and he was charged with the original property damage warrant. In addition, police are seeking further charges from the Commonwealth Attorney’s office including attempted capital murder of a police officer. Parker said once the SWAT team converged on the suspect, he gave up.
“It was fortunate that the incident was resolved peacefully,” he explained.
Since his arrest, police belive the suspect may be linked to another shooting earlier Tuesday.
Parker also stressed that the Richmond Police Department will continue to use alternative methods, including the technological tools used in this apprehension, to fight crime.