JAMES CITY COUNTY — A man wanted on multiple charges out of Hampton and Newport News was taken into custody in James City County Tuesday following a coordinated arrest effort involving several law enforcement agencies and resources.
According to the James City County Police Department, at approximately 7:15 p.m., it received a Be on the Lookout (BOLO) from the Hampton Police Division after a vehicle reported stolen in Hampton was detected by a Flock Safety camera in James City County.
Just after 10 p.m., JCCPD said a patrol officer located the vehicle parked on Tilghman Court in the Woods of Williamsburg apartment complex and confirmed the sighting with HPD.
According to police, as officers began processing the vehicle, they observed a man nearby matching the description of the man who stole the vehicle. When approached, the man refused to identify himself and fled on foot into a wooded area near Longhill Road and Lafayette Boulevard. Knowing the suspect may be armed, officers initiated a foot pursuit and requested support from the Department’s Drone Team, K-9 Officer Maverick and Handler Officer Drew Crockett, and an apprehension-trained K-9 from the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, police said.
K-9 Officer Maverick initiated the track, which was then taken over by YPSO’s K-9 Grit and Handler Sgt. Brett Schultz. According to the sheriff’s office, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Sgt. Schultz and K-9 Grit responded to the area, and within 15 minutes, had located the suspect and he was taken into custody. This was K-9 Grit’s first deployment with the sheriff’s olffice, as he had just been certified after six months of training that ended on May 1.
According to JCCPD, the suspect, 38-year-old Travis Inman, was learned to be a fugitive and wanted out of Hampton and Newport News on various charges. Inman was transported to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail on the following charges out of Hampton:
- Assault and Battery Against a Family Member
- Assault and Battery
- Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
- Grand Larceny
- Reckless Driving
- Driving Without an Operator’s License
- Contempt of Court
Inman also faces one misdemeanor charge out of Newport News:
- Destruction of Property — Less than $1,000
JCCPD said the arrest comes amid an increase in stolen vehicles across the Hampton Roads region, and law enforcement agencies continue to work aggressively to recover stolen vehicles and arrest offenders. It added according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Area Port of Norfolk ranks second nationally for recovered stolen vehicles, many of which are intended for international resale.
The department reminds citizens to lock their vehicles, park in well-lit areas or garages when possible, and never leave vehicles running unattended or keys inside. Many vehicles are stolen as a result of identity theft, and citizens are encouraged to report all instances of this crime to law enforcement as soon as possible, it added.
The Department commended the teamwork of its Uniform Patrol Division, Drone Team, K-9 Unit, and YPSO’s K-9 Grit and Handler Sgt. Schutz for their coordination and apprehension of the fugitive.
