Metro Transit Police Track Car Thief to Kingstowne Shopping Center

Update 9:05 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 -- Police announced an arrest in connection with the Saturday morning auto theft and subsequent ground and air search over southern Alexandria and northern Fairfax County. Read more here.

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Original post - 1:10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17

(Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the area where the incident took place; it was in the Kingstowne area of Fairfax County, not in  Alexandria as stated in a WMATA news release.)

Metro Transit Police are asking for the public's assistance in finding a suspect wanted in a Saturday morning auto theft, according to a Metro (WMATA) news release issued Saturday.

UPDATE: Metro Places Its Officer on Leave After Shooting Saturday in Fairfax County 

The incident started around 7 a.m. when the suspect stole a black Pontiac from the Addison Road Metro Station, in Capitol Heights, Md.

Metro Transit Police were able to track the vehicle to a shopping center parking lot on Van Dorn Street in Kingstowne by using the victim's iPhone, which was left inside the car. Metro did not specify the shopping center address.

The suspect fled the scene in the vehicle and a metro policeman who approached the suspect was then dragged by the suspect driving the car and fired a shot at the suspect, according to a Metro spokeswoman.

The suspect abandoned the vehicle on a ramp from South Van Dorn Street onto 495 East, leading to the Capital Beltway and fled on foot. Metro Transit Police, Alexandria Police, Fairfax County Police and Virginia State Police are tracking the suspect at this time and are also using helicopters in their search.

The suspect is described as a black male, mid-to-late 40s, 5'5", 170 lbs, bald head with facial hair and glasses. The suspect is also described as having a "growth" on the side of his neck similar to an Adam's apple. He was last seen wearing black jeans, a black t-shirt and possibly wearing a canvas jacket.

Anyone with information is urged to call Metro Transit Police at (202) 962-2121 or 911.

Patch will update this story as information becomes available.