Armed motorcycle theft starts online, ends in crash

A man thought he was going to sell his motorcycle to another man that he met on Craigslist.

That other man had other plans.

Police were called on Wednesday, April 15 at 12:45 p.m. to the 15000 block of
Camellia Lane in Montclair to investigate a robbery. The victim, a 36-year-old man,
told police that he arranged to sell a motorcycle to a buyer he met online.

The buyer showed up, and during the sale, the man pulled out a gun firearm, grabbed the motorcycle, and fled on the bike.

A short time later, officers located the suspect on the motorcycle traveling south on Spriggs Road near Hope Hill Avenue, about a mile from the victim’s house. They tried to stop the motorcycle but the rider ignored the officer’s emergency equipment, including lights and siren, and continued driving, according to Prince William police spokeswoman Renee Carr.

Police stopped their pursuit and the rider continued towards Route 234 near Forest Park High School. A short time later, a police K-9 officer saw the motorcycle crash at Brentsville and Smithfield Road, near Manassas, about 14 miles from where the bike was reported stolen.

Police went to the aid of the rider after the crash, but he refused to comply with commands and fled on foot. After a brief foot pursuit, the police K-9 apprehended the accused who was then transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, said Carr.

Offices picked up a gun they believed was used in the robbery a short distance away from the crash scene.

Peter Mwale Burnett, 21, of 42 Stafford Lake Drive in Stafford, is charged with robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and carry a concealed weapon, said Carr.

He’s due in court on June 25, 2020.