A man suspected of an armed robbery in Arlington County, Virginia, apparently crashed his getaway car into the water of the Potomac River off the George Washington Parkway Sunday, Arlington County police said.
Freddie Lee McRae, 33, fled after an armed robbery in the 2600 block of Columbia Pike in Arlington just after 5 p.m. Sunday, police said.
The suspect entered a business on Columbia Pike, took out a gun and then fled from the scene with stolen cash, police said.
An officer saw McRae's vehicle and tried to stop him on I-395 North at Boundary Channel, but he took off when the officer got out of his car, according to police.
Officers then pursued him on northbound George Washington Parkway.
Police say McRae drove on the pedestrian path, turned around and began driving southbound in the northbound lanes of GW Parkway. Officers then stopped the pursuit.
McRae continued driving toward the Potomac River and as the vehicle careened into the river, McRae went into the water and tried to swim away, police said.
McRae was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
He was arrested and charged with robbery, felony eluding and related firearms charges.
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Arlington police said they are not looking for additional suspects and received no additional reports of injuries or property damage.
The Arlington County Fire Department, U.S. Park Police, Metropolitan Police Department and other agencies are assisting with the investigation.
