A disorderly patron of a South Stafford convenience store attempted to enter a Sheriff’s Office vehicle on Saturday morning. He was eventually granted access, but it was the backseat and he was in handcuffs.

On March 8th at 3:31 a.m. deputies responded to the Wawa on Butler Road for an assault in progress. Staff advised a male customer was tearing up the store and had grabbed an employee around the neck with both his hands. As Sgt. J.T. Forman arrived on scene, the suspect pulled on the door handle of the patrol car. This resulted in the suspect’s immediate detention.

The suspect was identified as Savonte Hawthorne, 28, of Springfield. Deputy R.H. Ryan IV arrived to assist and obtained warrants for strangulation, assault and battery, disorderly conduct and public intoxication. Hawthorne was held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail pending his ability to participate in a bond hearing.

The employee was checked by medics and fortunately was not seriously injured.