At first, it looked like a routine traffic stop. Police lights flashed, and a black pickup truck with trailer attached pulled over to the side of the 3200 block of Wilson Boulevard.
But seconds later, police were brandishing weapons, and bystanders at the outdoor café at Common Grounds coffee shop were scattering to avoid the conflict. A civil dispute between a local resident and a Woodbridge-based moving company turned into police action Saturday, June 21.
According to the man who called police, he hired Apollo Movers to transport his belongings to Philadelphia for $400. But once the items were loaded, the movers raised the price to $1,000 and demanded a $200 unloading fee if the man rejected the new terms.
When he refused to pay, the movers drove away, with everything he owned. That’s when police stepped in.
RESPONDING TO a call from the man, a police officer pulled the truck over, ordering the driver to turn off the engine. The officer then ordered both movers to keep their hands in sight, outside the windows. Seconds later, at least seven police cars sped to the scene, and officers surrounded the truck, aiming pistols and shotguns at the men inside.
Some bystanders were surprised at the number of weapons on display. “Not much [crime] goes on here anyway,” said Adam Keller, who watched from Common Grounds. “So I guess when they get anything above a traffic citation, it’s, ‘Come on boys, grab your shotguns.’”
“There’s an infinite number of reasons why a police officer would draw his weapon,” said detective John Ritter, a spokesperson for the Police Department. Officers on the scene may not have all the information when they receive a dispatch call, Ritter said, so they may not know how dangerous the situation is for themselves or others.
Bystanders agreed that officers were acting in the interests of the citizen. “In general, I guess it’s good to know Arlington County police are prepared,” said Keller.
IN THE END, no arrests were made. After being handcuffed and questioned at the scene, the movers agreed to return the man’s possessions but said they had done nothing wrong. The driver of the truck said he raised the price because the client brought more items than they had originally agreed to transport.
When the man refused to pay the additional fee, they drove away to take the truck back to the office, for management to deal with, the driver said. Both the driver and his passenger, whom police on the scene referred to as Mike, said they were terrified as they stared down the barrels of loaded police weapons.
The moving company could not be reached for comment on the incident.