Crime & Safety

Chantilly Man Steals Cab in Woodbridge, Crashes in Lorton After Police Chase

The following information comes from Lorton Patch and the Prince William County Police Department. Where charges or arrests are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The driver of a stolen Prince William County taxicab was arrested early Monday morning after a police chase that ended in a crash in the area of .

The incident occurred at around 2:30 a.m. and the suspect allegedly crashed into another driver and caused minor injuries.

The suspect, Margarito Avalar Escobar, 29, hailed a cab in Woodbridge. Jonathan Perok, Prince William County Police public information officer, said the cab was stopped at a traffic light in the area of Prince William Parkway and York Drive when Escobar allegedly assaulted the cab driver.

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Escobar, from Chantilly, allegedly ordered the driver out of the taxi and got into the driver's seat and drove away, Perok said. 

"Police were able to use the cab’s GPS to track the vehicle in Fairfax County," Perok said. "Fairfax County Police located the vehicle and arrested the accused in the area of Ox Road and Palmer Road in Lorton."

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The accused remains in the custody of Fairfax County Police on charges related to this incident. 

Escobar is facing charges including driving while intoxicated and eluding police. Prince William County Police have charged Escobar with carjacking. 

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