Woodbridge man charged with taking deputy's Taser, resisting arrest

A Woodbridge man faces several charges in Stafford County after authorities said he grabbed a deputy’s Taser and ran with it on Monday night.

Deputies were called to Bismark and Rye Creek drives in the Garrisonville area at 8:50 p.m. after a resident reported seeing flashlights and hearing loud noises, said Stafford County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Bill Kennedy.

The caller told authorities the intruders may have been stealing from vacant and under-construction homes nearby.

The deputy saw a truck – reportedly occupied by Dany Hernandez – traveling on nearby Naples Road with “a large amount” of copper tubing and construction tools in its bed, Kennedy said.

Authorities followed the truck to the 3000 block of Jefferson Davis Highway near Interstate 95, and stopped the truck.

Hernandez and four other men ran out of the truck, Kennedy said.

A deputy chased Hernandez, the closest man to him of the five, into the woods.  The man apparently refused to comply with the deputy’s orders to surrender, Kennedy said.

Authorities Tasered Hernandez, but the heavy layers of clothing he was wearing made the weapon ineffective in subduing him, Kennedy said.

Hernandez then struggled with deputy, jumping on his back and grabbing his Taser, Kennedy said. He then took off with it into nearby woods.

The man dropped the Taser after he saw the deputy following him, authorities said.

A Fairfax County police helicopter and Stafford canine units were called in after the deputy lost sight of Hernandez, officials said.  Deputies formed a perimeter around the area.

Hernandez was found hiding in the woods behind the Aquia Pines Campground, 3071 Jefferson Davis Highway, Garrisonville area, Kennedy said.

Hernandez, 26, of Florida Avenue in Woodbridge, was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, disarming a Taser from a law enforcement officer, grand larceny, conspiracy to commit grand larceny, larceny with intent to sell, conspiracy to commit larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny with intent to sell and vandalism, Kennedy said.

He was held without bond and has a court date of April 5.

Deputies discovered that the items found in the truck bed, valued at $25,000, were stolen from an unidentified construction company.  An employee of the company confirmed with deputies that the items belonged to his employer, Kennedy said.

Stafford County Sheriff’s are still looking for the other four men involved in the thefts as part of their ongoing investigation. They ask people with information to call the Sheriff’s Office at 540-658-4450.

Staff writer David Pierce can be reached at 703-530-3905.