Just like the slasher movie villain he donned as a disguise, a man charged with destruction of the Lorton Station Community Association’s property kept coming back.
The Fairfax County Police Department arrested a 22-year-old man from Lorton on Aug. 17 after he allegedly destroyed the windows of the community association’s building at 9050 Lorton Station Blvd on six different occasions.
In each case, a person was seen on video approaching the community center dressed as Ghostface, the recurring antagonist who haunts the “Scream” franchise.
According to an FCPD press release:
Since July 9, a masked suspect committed six destruction of property incidents at the homeowner’s community center located at 9050 Lorton Station Boulevard. During each incident, the masked suspect damaged windows using rocks, a hammer, and cinder blocks.
Surveillance footage showed the suspect wearing a “Scream” style mask, black robe, fluorescent gloves, and white shoes with fluorescent laces.
Hoping to catch the perpetrator in the act, detectives set up outside the building on Aug. 17 for a surveillance operation, the FCPD said. They spotted a man wearing the same costume as the previous incidents “walking in the area” at approximately 4:24 a.m.
“Detectives observed [the man] retrieve bricks and run toward the homeowner’s community center,” the police department said.
Body camera video shared by the FCPD shows an officer exiting a police cruiser with blue lights flashing, while yelling “Do not move!” and “Get on the ground now!” As dramatic music plays, the officer approaches the building, where a figure wearing the Ghostface mask can be seen lying prone on a brick walkway.
With his gloved hands behind his back, the man is handcuffed, and his mask is then taken off in slow-motion by a police officer.
The man has been charged with six counts of property destruction — three felonies and three misdemeanors — for incidents that occurred between July 9 and Aug. 15 as well as one count of wearing a mask in public, which is classified in Virginia as a class 6 felony that could result in one to five years of prison time.
Intentional property destruction is elevated from a class 1 misdemeanor with a potential jail sentence of up to one year to a class 6 felony if the damage is valued at $1,000 or more. According to the FCPD, the damage to the Lorton Station Community Association building totaled approximately $8,000.
When contacted by FFXnow, the community association said it had no comment.
Following an arraignment on Aug. 18, the Lorton man was released on his own recognizance, according to court records. He’s scheduled to next appear in Fairfax County General District Court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.
