A 25-year-old Arlington man is facing a long list of serious charges after police say he assaulted multiple officers and tried to grab their weapons during a chaotic arrest in a residential neighborhood.
The suspect, Jack Witherell, is being held without bond after an incident that unfolded around 8:42 p.m. on April 1 near the 2100 block of N. Culpeper Street.
According to Arlington County Police, it all started inside a community center where Witherell got into a heated argument with another man. Things escalated quickly once they stepped outside. Investigators say Witherell smashed the front and back windows of the victim’s parked car with an object, then walked toward his own vehicle. When the victim approached, Witherell allegedly made threats that suggested he had a gun and physically assaulted the man, who sustained minor injuries.
When officers arrived, they found Witherell in the passenger seat of a parked car. Police say he refused to comply, made threats, and tried to grab three officers’ firearms during the struggle. It reportedly took several additional officers to get him under control.
In total, five officers were assaulted — some kicked, others spat on, police say. One officer went to the hospital with minor injuries. Witherell was also evaluated at a local hospital before being booked at the Arlington County Detention Facility.
Police Chief Andy Penn praised his officers for their restraint, saying they handled a volatile situation with professionalism and teamwork.
“The officers demonstrated great restraint in the face of danger while attempting to subdue a combative, non-compliant suspect who repeatedly reached for their firearms,” Chief Penn said.
The investigation is still ongoing. Police are asking anyone with more information about what happened to reach out to their tip line at 703-228-4180.