On November 26, 2016 at approximately 2:20 a.m. patrol units responded to a Robbery call at Mr. B’s Exxon located at 375 Warrenton Road. When Deputy S.A. Fulford and Sgt. C.M. Neuhard arrived they were advised by the store clerk that a masked man wearing black pants, shirts and shoes had attempted to enter the locked store. The clerk, who was inside the store, motioned to the man to remove his mask prior to opening the door. The man did not remove his mask and the clerk dialed 9-1-1. The male subject moved to the side of the building and the clerk indicated he observed him peek around the corner looking toward the front of the store a couple of times. When deputies arrived a witness stated he had observed a man matching the description provided leave the premises on foot fleeing toward Thomas Lane.

A perimeter and K-9 track was established. Deputy B.U. Demirci and his K-9 Partner “Steele” tracked the suspect to an enclosed fence in the backyard of a residence on Bellows Avenue. Sgt. J.L. Rakoczy apprehended the subject found lying in the grass behind the fence. While searching the area near the suspect a Ruger 9mm handgun was discovered hidden under a blanket of a nearby baby stroller. The gun’s serial number was defaced and it returned stolen out of Spotsylvania.

Isaiah Vesaun Mason, age 21 of Anvil Road in Stafford, was arrested and charged with Attempted Robbery, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, Alter or Defacing Serial Numbers on a Firearm and Wearing a Mask in a Public Place. He is incarcerated in the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is being held on no bond.

K-9 Partner Steele graduated from K-9 School on November 18, 2016. He was obtained via a grant from the Roethlisberger Foundation. Ben Roethlisberger is the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation seeks to support police and fire departments throughout the U.S. with a particular emphasis on support for K-9 units and service dogs.