A Maryland man accused of pulling a gun on a woman and stealing her vehicle during a midday carjacking in Virginia was caught hours later after a pursuit ended with a crash in DC, police said.
Tyler Abrahim Afsar, 23, of Hyattsville, has now been charged in the Tuesday, July 14 carjacking in the Cherrydale neighborhood, Arlington County Police announced on Thursday, Aug. 6.
It began at approximately 12:59 p.m. in the 4100 block of 18th Street North, where investigators say a woman was sitting inside her parked vehicle when Afsar pulled up in a pickup truck.
That truck had also been stolen, police said, this time out of Prince George's County.
Afsar allegedly got out, approached the driver's side window and brandished a firearm before demanding the woman's vehicle.
He then stole the contents of her purse, investigators said.
The woman got out of the vehicle and Afsar allegedly drove away in it. She was not injured.
Officers searched the area but couldn't find him. Hours later, the stolen vehicle surfaced in Prince George's County.
With help from Prince George's County Police and US Park Police, law enforcement pursued the vehicle until it crashed in Washington, DC, according to investigators.
Afsar, who police said was behind the wheel and alone inside, was taken into custody by US Park Police.
Investigators also recovered a firearm from the vehicle and determined Afsar was a convicted felon.
Arlington detectives continued building their case and said they ultimately found evidence linking Afsar to the Cherrydale carjacking.
Warrants were obtained on Wednesday, Aug. 5, charging him with:
- Armed carjacking;
- Use of a firearm in the commission of a felony;
- Robbery;
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Grand larceny auto.
Afsar remains in custody in DC.
The investigation remains active.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact Arlington County Police Detective J. Cox by calling 703-228-0491.
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