Fairfax County Police Department News

Wossen Assaye is back in custody after escaping from contracted security guards, assigned by the U.S. Marshals, while he was a patient at Inova Fairfax Hospital. On Tuesday, March 31, Fairfax County Police were called to the hospital, located at 3300 Gallows Road, shortly after 3 a.m. Officers determined that minutes earlier Assaye was able to overtake one of the two assigned guards, stealing their handgun. The second guard was unable to stop him and Assaye fled down a stairway with the handgun. That security guard fired a shot during the altercation but no one was injured.

Officers immediately worked with hospital staff to lock down the hospital and surrounding areas outside. Additional law enforcement partners from local and federal jurisdictions responded to assist in the search for Assaye. Fairfax County Police took to Twitter and began providing critical, time-sensitive information to the public and media. Through Twitter, that information was shared quickly and provided the community with essential information they needed to assist law enforcement in the search, as well as protecting themselves.

Tweets by @fairfaxpolice

While searching, police were called to the 7100 block of Cindy Lane in the Annandale area, for the report of a stolen car. They quickly determined the suspect in that incident was Wossen Assaye. It appears Assaye was hidden in the car of an unsuspecting female resident who resided in the 8400 block of Hayden Lane, near Fairfax Hospital. The unsuspecting victim left for work at approximately 6:45 a.m. While traveling to work the suspect appeared in the rear seat of the victim’s car. The victim was startled, lost control of her car and crashed into a parked car. She jumped from the vehicle and ran for assistance. Assaye then stole her car and fled.

A large contingent of law enforcement officers saturated the area searching for the car and Assaye. A short time later, the stolen car was located in the garage of an unoccupied home in the 6900 block of Oak Court in the Annandale area. As officers set up on the house, the suspect fled on foot. Moments later, in the 6900 block of Cherry Lane, a second stolen vehicle was reported. Officers quickly responded and determined Assaye took that second vehicle by force and fled. A multitude of law enforcement officers continued to saturate the area looking for the suspect and the second stolen car.

Shortly after 11 a.m. an alert resident in Washington, D.C. saw the suspect on a commuter bus and notified police. Metropolitan Police located Assaye in the area of 25th Street SE and Pennsylvania Avenue SE. He was taken into custody without incident. The handgun taken from the security officer was recovered inside the first stolen vehicle.

Colonel Edwin Roessler, Jr., Chief of Police, commended the efforts of community residents, locally and in Washington, D.C., for providing vital information to police throughout the day. Their efforts aided in the apprehension. He also commended the diligent and collaborative effort by all involved law enforcement agencies and thanked our local and federal partners who assisted in the exhaustive search.

Wossen Assaye was charged federally with escape from custody. Additional charges are expected in the coming days as Fairfax County detectives continue their investigation. They will coordinate with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and the Eastern District of Virginia Federal Prosecutors Office. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

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