One minute, a 28-year-old Centreville woman was safe in her bed, sleeping, with her 5-year-old son nearby. And the next thing she knew, a 25-year-old man allegedly broke into her apartment and assaulted her. As a result, Fairfax County police arrested Makubani S. Reel, of no fixed address.
Police say the alleged incident occurred last Thursday, Oct. 6, around 4 a.m. in the 6400 block of Paddington Lane in the Lee Overlook community. They say the woman awoke to find a man she knew — reportedly Reel — in her bedroom.
Then, according to police, "The man [allegedly] produced a knife and ordered the woman and her son into a room in her apartment." However, a citizen overheard the ensuing screaming and called police. They responded to find the woman and her child running out of the apartment.
Meanwhile, officers saw the suspect and chased him on foot, apprehending him nearby. He was reportedly identified as Reel and charged with breaking and entering, abduction and assault and battery.
Abduction, alone, is punishable by as much as 10 years in prison; and if convicted of all three offenses, Reel could receive a possible maximum of 16 years behind bars. He was taken to the Adult Detention Center and held without bond. He has a Nov. 7 court date.
<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs