Stafford, VA. Two suspects were arrested last week by deputies with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office after attempting to use a stolen identity to purchase items from Fredericksburg Motor Sports located at 430 Kings Highway.

On January 20, 2020, Fredericksburg Motor Sports contacted the Sheriff’s Office regarding a suspicious credit application submitted through an online portal. Detectives launched an investigation and made contact with the victim—a North Carolina resident who advised that he had not tried to purchase anything from the business.

Several days later, on January 23, 2020, Fredericksburg Motor Sports informed detectives that the applicants had called and were at the dealership. Patrol units set up a perimeter around the business and detectives responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, units observed one of the suspects exiting the business, and deputies commanded him to stop, but he took off running. After a foot pursuit, the suspect was taken into custody and later identified as Bryant Hardy, 27, of Richmond, VA.

While running, the suspect dropped the fake driver’s license and it was located by First Sergeant Floirendo.

In the meantime, a second suspect was observed sitting in a U-Haul van. Deputies observed that the passenger had moved from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat, and he began to put the vehicle in reverse. Deputy Assur commanded the suspect to stop and he complied. The suspect was taken into custody and later identified as Andrew Batts, 27, of Richmond, VA.

Hardy was incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail on charges of attempting to obtain money by false pretenses, attempted false statements to obtain property or credit, identity theft, identity fraud, conspiracy to commit larceny, obstruction of justice, and possession of a false driver’s license. Batts was incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail on charges of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretenses.