Arlington police are investigation four separate robbery incidents where the circumstances sound similar, with an arrest made in the third one:
• On June 29 at 12:24 p.m., an individual entered a business in the 2300 block of 2nd Street South, selected merchandise, approached the counter and requested cigarettes before brandishing a firearm and demanding cash, Arlington police said.
The suspect then fled the scene with cash and merchandise.
The suspect is described as a black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, gray T-shirt, gray jeans and a blue surgical mask.
• On July 3 at 4:21 p.m., an individual entered a store in the 2000 block of Clarendon Boulevard, collected merchandise, went behind the counter and stole cartons of cigarettes, Arlington police said.
The suspect then made threatening statements, implying he had a weapon, before fleeing the scene on foot into the nearby Metro station.
The suspect is a black male, 6 feet tall, with a beard.
• On July 4 at 7:49 a.m., an individual entered a store in the 1500 block of Wilson Boulevard and began to collect merchandise, Arlington police said.
When an employee approached the suspect, he allegedly made threatening statements and subsequently exited the store without payment, police said.
The suspect is described as a black male, 20 to 30 years old.
• On July 5 at 10:25 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 5000 block of Columbia Pike for a report of a larceny, Arlington police said.
According to police, an individual entered the business and allegedly began concealing items when he was approached by an employee. The suspect made threatening statements and fled on foot with the merchandise, police said.
The suspect was located in the area and ran from officers before being taken into custody.
During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the suspect previously had been banned from the store and had stolen items, police said.
The suspect – 30-year-old Raheem Freeman of no fixed address – was arrested and charged with robbery, obstruction of justice, trespassing and four counts of petty larceny. He was held without bond.
