A man accused of firing gunshots into the air and then leading police on a high-speed car chase from the Pentagon City mall will serve three years behind bars, Arlington police said Tuesday.
Authorities have said Reginald Dana Carroll was apparently frustrated to be stuck at a parking lot gate at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City when the driver in front of him had trouble using a credit card to exit the gate.
The incident occurred Dec. 18, 2015 as the nearby mall was packed with holiday shoppers.
Carroll argued with the other driver, fired shots into the air and then sped off through the mall's 15th Street S. exit, police said.
Arlington police trailed Carroll as he sped onto I-395 and into the District. Someone threw a gun from the car along the way, which was recovered later, police said.
The four-mile chase passed through Southwest D.C., near the National Mall and then into the Third Street Tunnel, forcing police to close traffic near rush hour.
Police arrested Carroll and his passenger, Calvin Darnell Pelzer, at 3rd and F streets without incident, they said.
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Carroll took an Alford Plea in two charges against him: the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and attempted malicious wounding. In an Alford Plea, the suspect does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evident to convict.
Carroll is expected to serve three years for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He received a suspended sentence of five years in the other charge.
Pelzer, his passenger, pleaded guilty to felony eluding and accessory after the fact, police said.
Pelzer was sentenced to five years with four suspended on the first charge, and 12 months for the second charge. He will serve the two sentences concurrently.
