An alleged car thief’s crime spree ended when he crashed into a gas pump in Virginia just days after being arrested (and released) following an armed robbery arrest in D.C., according to officials and a report.
Mecca Lee-Bey, 20, was arrested Monday for the second time in a week after the nasty crash, authorities said.
He initially stole more than $2,500 in merchandise from a business and fled to a nearby parking lot where he attempted to break into a 2013 Kia Optima, Fairfax police alleged.
A frightened teenager behind the wheel of the Kia drove away while Lee-Bey allegedly held on to the door. They dragged him a short distance before the victim stopped and got out of the car, police said.
The suspected car thief jumped into the driver’s seat and headed west on Leesburg Pike, where he attempted to make a U-turn.
Instead, he lost control of the car and crashed into the gas station before being arrested.
Video of the crash obtained by WUSA shows the Kia speeding into the parking lot and hitting a pole as pieces of the car fly away. He then crashed into the bomb, knocking it completely over before the Kia came to rest on top of it. Lee-Bey immediately jumped out of the car and limped away.
He faces charges of vehicle theft and grand theft.
The crime spree ended when the car crashed into the gas pump. Fairfax County Police
Lee-Bey was previously arrested on October 23 on multiple charges by Metropolitan Police in D.C., according to the television station.
He is accused of robbing a man at knifepoint and holding the victim against his will in an apartment on Oct. 20, police said. He also allegedly stole the victim’s car and forced him to send him money electronically.
Lee-Bey was charged with kidnapping, armed robbery, simple assault, unauthorized use of a vehicle and robbery, police said.
Another suspect was also arrested in the case.
The male victim in the first case was surprised to learn that Lee-Bey was out on the street after the first set of charges.
“Man, that’s bad, that’s bad,” he told WUSA9.
“When it’s all said and done and you hear something like that, it’s frustrating for officers, but we also realize that we’re just a part of the criminal justice system,” said County Sheriff’s Department public information officer Sgt. Fairfax. Jacob Pearce also told the station.
It is unclear why Lee-Bey was released after the first arrest.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for DC told WUSA, “We cannot confirm or deny the investigations.”
Lee-Bey is currently in Fairfax custody.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn