It’s a story we first told you about on our Facebook page Tuesday afternoon. Police swarmed the area around Ashdale Plaza and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission bus terminal about 3 p.m. after an officer was assaulted, according to police.
Here’s an account from Prince William police addressing what happened:
Assault & Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer [LEO] – On December 16th at 3:20PM, a Prince William County police officer stopped a man in the median area on Dale Blvd near Gideon Dr in Woodbridge (22193) for suspected panhandling.
During the encounter, the man provided the officer with a false identity and began to flee on foot. The officer attempted to stop the man and was assaulted. The suspect continued to flee and, at one point, stopped and reengaged the officer.
The suspect assaulted the officer a second time before continuing to flee into a wooded area where officers lost sight of him. No injuries were reported. A police K-9 was used to search for the suspect. During the investigation, officers were able identity the suspect as the accused and further learned that he was actively being sought on multiple warrants.
On December 17th, officers conducted another search of the wooded area on Dale Blvd near I-95 for the accused. After an extensive search, the accused was located in a tent and arrested without further incident.
Arrested on December 17th:
Andre Solmon PATTERSON, 48, of no fixed address
Charged with 2 counts of assault & battery on a LEO, 1 count of resisting arrest, 1 count of providing a false identity to law enforcement and 1 count of panhandling
*Additional unrelated warrants also served
Court date: pending | Bond: held WITHOUT bond
