From the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office
A wanted suspect was arrested by deputies with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday evening after a lengthy pursuit during which he struck several law enforcement cruisers and civilian vehicles.
On December 18, 2018, at approximately 9:24 p.m., Deputy McWaters was in the area of the Olde Forge subdivision when he located a vehicle driven by a subject that he knew was wanted out of Fredericksburg, Caroline County, and Spotsylvania County for felony larceny-related offenses.
Deputy McWaters then attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the area of Anvil Road and Sledgehammer Drive. Sgt. Aubry and Deputy Vasquez arrived to the area to assist, but the suspect vehicle continued traveling. Deputy McWaters pulled ahead of the suspect vehicle to block the roadway, resulting in the suspect vehicle making contact with the passenger side of the cruiser.
The pursuit continued onto Warrenton Road and then Interstate 95 northbound. During that time, the suspect vehicle struck two cruisers and at least two civilian vehicles. At approximately 9:32 p.m., the suspect vehicle exited the interstate at exit 143A. The suspect vehicle again made contact with Deputy Vasquez’s cruiser near the intersection of Washington Drive and Garrisonville Road.
In the area of the Mine Road commuter lot, Deputy Vasquez made intentional contact with the suspect vehicle in an attempt to terminate the pursuit. The suspect vehicle lost control and spun off the road into a grassy area. Deputy Vasquez then took off in search of the suspect. In the meantime, the cruiser became engulfed in flames and Stafford Fire and Rescue Department personnel arrived on scene to address the vehicle fire.
The UAS team and Deputy Demirci along with his K9 partner, Steel, then arrived to search for the suspect. Shortly thereafter, Steel located the suspect hiding in the woods not far from the crash scene. The suspect was identified as Gary Robert Freeze, 38, of Stafford. Freeze was subsequently taken into custody and incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. Freeze was served his outstanding warrants and received additional charges of eluding law enforcement, reckless driving, hit and run, driving revoked and defective equipment.
Additional charges were obtained by Deputy Justin Forman who responded to a hit and run and disabled vehicle on I-95 that occurred as a result of the pursuit. He obtained warrants for felony hit and run, aggressive driving, failure to signal a lane change, passing on the shoulder of a highway, and following too closely.
