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D.C. man sentenced to three months in jail for hit-and-run, eluding police

Alexandria Police cruiser. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

A 26-year-old Washington, D.C. man has been sentenced to three months in the Alexandria jail after leaving the scene of an accident while driving a stolen car in the West End in January.

Jarrel Bailey was arrested driving a stolen Dodge Challenger on Jan. 3 after Alexandria police attempted to pull him over for reckless driving on Monday, January 3. The Challenger took off at high speed, and then “struck an uninvolved motorist,” according to a search warrant affidavit.

Police also found that a false vehicle identification number (VIN) was placed on the vehicle, and a firearm and white powdery substance inside the vehicle was later recovered. Bailey’s driver’s license was also found in the driver door of the Challenger.

Bailey was arrested on Jn. 3, released on Bond and then went to court on Feb. 4. He returned to jail on Feb. 7 after being sentenced to 510 days in jail — with most of that time suspended.

The Commonwealth dropped the driving the vehicle with the VIN removed charge, as well as driving with forged plates and the gun possession charges. Bailey was sentenced to 30 days in jail (150 days suspended) for leaving the scene of an accident and 60 days for eluding police (120 days suspended).

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.