The drone team is amazing, the K-9’s are incredible, but we couldn’t be so successful in the apprehension of criminals without the help of our supportive community. A combination of great police work and helpful residents led to the capture of a dangerous suspect yesterday morning in South Stafford.

On March 4th at 6:51 a.m. deputies responded to Musselman Road for a disturbance with a weapon. The caller reported she was parked in a driveway when a stranger approached with a chainsaw in one hand and a hammer in the other. The suspect grasped her door handle and brought the hammer up in a motion to swing it toward the car window. Fortunately, the driver remained composed and drove away from the suspect.

As deputies arrived and began the search for the suspect, they were flagged down by another resident on the street with the report of another crime. This resident reported waking up to a noise in his home at 6:30 a.m. When he went to investigate the noise, he encountered the same carjacking suspect in his home. Upon seeing the homeowner, the suspect fled from the residence.

Additional reports continued to filter into the Sheriff’s Office of the suspect ringing assorted doorbells in the area. Various pieces of the suspects clothing and the chainsaw were located as K-9 began to track the suspect toward I-95.

Deputies worked closely with Stafford County Public School administration and transportation to safely orchestrate the movement of children from their bus stops to school buses during the ongoing search.

During the K-9 track, deputies recovered a handgun the suspect had dropped during his misguided flight. Drone continued to watch from the air as observant neighbors continued to report sightings of the suspect.

Finally, after nearly three hours, the suspect was located in the woods behind Rappahannock Landing subdivision. He was quickly arrested and identified as Devin Laws, 26, of Blackwater, Virginia. Brass knuckles were found in his pocket.

As Deputy J.A. Buzzard transported the suspect to the magistrate, an additional resident reported Laws had attempted to enter his home on Denison Street in Celebrate Virginia with the handgun displayed. Ring camera footage confirmed it was the same handgun recovered by K-9 during the track.

Laws claimed he was in the area to do landscaping work. He is now in the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond on charges of breaking and entering, attempted carjacking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a concealed weapon after a felony conviction, petit larceny, and vandalism. The stolen chainsaw was returned to the rightful owner.

Great teamwork by the deputies and residents to keep Stafford safe!