Police block off Brookfield Plaza in Springfield following a robbery on Saturday, May 21. Photo by Abigail Constantino.
Three days after an armed robbery and gunfight that broke out in Springfield’s Brookfield Plaza, Fairfax County Police announced Tuesday, May 24, that two men have been arrested in connection with the case.
The robbery and shooting occurred around 12:22 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, at the Dubai Jewelry Store.
William Timothy Franklin IV, 24, was arrested Monday May 23 at his home in Waldorf, Maryland.
Also Monday evening, police said, U.S. Customs, Border Patrol and officers with the Port Authority Police of New York and New Jersey arrested Jasminder Sethi, 26 at Newark Airport in New Jersey. Sethi is also from Waldorf.
Police have felony warrants for both men: Robbery for Sethi and Robbery plus Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony for Franklin. The process of extraditing the arrestees to Fairfax County is underway.
Depending on whether they waive the extradition or fight it, the process can take anywhere from two days to two months, said Captain David M. Smith, Commander of the Major Crimes Division of Fairfax County Police.
Captain Smith and Fairfax County Chief of Police Edwin Roessler addressed members of the media about the arrests at the Fairfax County Government Center on May 24.
Roessler gave a brief recap of the incident. He explained how an officer in the area first responded to the 911 call reporting the robbery and established a “position of cover and conceal, as he’s trained to do.”
THE OFFICER challenged the suspect who was exiting the jewelry store. The suspect then fired at the officer. The officer, a seven-year veteran of the department whose name has not been released yet, returned fire.
Police believe a bullet from the suspect’s gun struck a motorist who was driving behind the officer. Roessler wouldn’t comment on the condition of that citizen. By the last update from police, the condition was listed as non-life-threatening.
The extent of the vollies hasn’t been released. Roessler simply stated “many shots were fired.”
The suspect fled on foot. He carjacked a vehicle, which he crashed at Spring Village Drive and Hampton Creek Way. The suspect carjacked another vehicle, which Roessler said he drove to the 7600 block of Hooes Road before fleeing further on foot.
Patrol officers, the K-9 unit, helicopter Fairfax 1 and Virginia State Police Troopers immediately began searching the area.
Neither Roessler nor Smith would comment on any prior criminal history of either arrestee in the case, citing an active investigation.
When asked how they were found, Roessler answered, “good, old-fashioned detective work.” He did additionally praise the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force, the Prince George’s County Maryland Police Department and the Charles County, Maryland Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in apprehending the men.
“The primary goal was to get these guys in custody,” Smith said. “That’s where we’re at. We still have a long way to go.”
THREE INVESTIGATIONS into the incident are now underway: criminal, administrative and Internal Affairs.
Smith and Roessler also declined to answer whether they are pursuing additional suspects connected with the case, or whether the suspects in custody committed further crimes after the initial robbery in Springfield.
Chief Roessler’s initial statement from the scene of the robbery is available online.