Three charged with eluding police, grand larceny

Three Triangle men are charged in a string of auto break-ins in the Dumfries area.

Police were called Friday to the area of U.S. 1 and River Ridge Boulevard to investigate a report of someone trying to break into several cars. When police arrived, they saw a man in a car fitting the description of a culprit provided by the 911 caller, said Prince William police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez.

One of the officers tried to stop the car, but the driver sped off at high speed, Hernandez said. The car then attempted to made a right turn from River Heritage Boulevard onto U.S. 1.

Because he was going so fast, the driver was unable to complete the turn. The driver struck the median and then began driving north on the southbound lanes, said Hernandez.

One of the passengers, 23-year-old Jose Carlos Martinez, jumped from the moving car and fled on foot, Hernandez said. He was later caught by police.

The car stopped moments later and the remaining driver and passenger fled on foot. K-9 officer J.G. Yost and his partner, Dante, caught up to 20-year-old Benjamin Bernard Bagett and arrested him, Hernandez said.

The third man, 19-year-old John Cameron Blair, was also arrested shortly thereafter.

When police searched the car, they found GPS units, cameras and pieces of jewelry inside, said Hernandez.

Blair, Bagett and Martinez, all of 17882 Main Street in Triangle, were held without bond. They face charges of felony eluding, grand larceny from automobiles and obstruction of justice.

An investigation is ongoing.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.