Shoplifting suspect arrested after fleeing stafford county deputies

Shoplifting suspect arrested after fleeing Stafford County deputies

STAFFORD, Va. — A man accused of shoplifting from a Target store was arrested Friday afternoon after attempting to evade Stafford County deputies both in his vehicle and on foot, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said.

The incident occurred on October 11 around 3:20 p.m., when deputies responded to a report of larceny at the Target on South Gateway Drive. According to authorities, store security stopped the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Torrey Graves of Triangle, after he attempted to push a cart containing $1,279.95 worth of merchandise past all points of sale.

As security escorted Graves to the loss prevention office, he fled the store on foot and headed to his Hyundai Elantra in the parking lot. Deputies quickly received a description of the vehicle, and First Sergeant J.J. Kreider located it turning onto southbound Warrenton Road.

When a traffic stop was initiated, Graves refused to pull over, using all lanes of traffic and the shoulder in an attempt to escape. The pursuit ended when Graves abruptly stopped in an Exxon parking lot on Short Street and fled on foot. First Sergeant Kreider quickly apprehended him.

Graves was charged with grand larceny, eluding law enforcement, and driving without insurance. He is currently being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $2,500 bond.

Shore News Network

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.