Alexandria City Police have arrested a man suspected of attempted abductions near two different Metro stations.
The two attempted abductions happened within an hour of each other Friday night, with Alexandria police calling the incidents “deeply disturbing.”
Thirty-three-year-old Jeffrey Gary, a Fairfax County Resident, was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with assault and battery, sexual battery and two counts of attempted abduction.
Police said he has no prior criminal history.
The first attempted abduction happened Friday around 8:45 p.m. at the Potomac Metro station.
A 30-year-old woman was assaulted by the suspect while she was with her 4-year old child. She was able to get away and report the incident.
An hour later, police were able to get a video of another attempted abduction with the same suspect near Braddock Road. The suspect can be approaching another woman, also in her thirties. Police said he attacked her and took her to the ground. She was also able to break away and report the incident.
People are just going around trying to take people. That’s crazy,” said Mikaela Roper of Alexandria. “There’s nobody here to help us.”
“We want to be very clear: It is our goal to protect every citizen of our community,” said APD Chief Tarrick McGuire. “But when there is the victimization of some of our most vulnerable — women, children and our elderly — that has a different psychological impact on public safety.”
Police said public safety cameras and collaboration with the Metro Transit Police Department led to a quick identification and arrest.
But some Metro commuters said more work needs to be done to make their rides feel safer.
“There’s signs all over the place that say they are having increased Metro police, but I haven’t seen any increased Metro police, so I don’t know about that,” Roper said.
Police said there could be more victims out there and urge anyone with any information to contact APD immediately.
