A Stafford man faces serious charges after wielding a weapon in a North Stafford parking lot last night.

On January 15th at 11:08 p.m. deputies responded to a disturbance with a weapon at Buffalo Mo’s on Wicomico Drive. Staff at the restaurant reported a customer brandished a handgun in the parking lot and racked back the slide. As 911 was called, the suspect entered a Dodge Durango in the parking lot.

Deputy C.T. Richardson and Deputy S. Waheed were on scene in under a minute and attempted to stop the suspect. Evidently, the suspect did not realize he was in Stafford County and he fled in the vehicle eastbound on Greenspring Drive.

The suspect sped up to approximately 60 mph initiating a pursuit. After less than half a mile, the suspect stopped on Barksdale Place and was taken into custody without incident.

The suspect was identified as Christian Islas, 33, a convicted felon. Deputies determined Islas had tossed the firearm from the vehicle during the brief chase and began searching the pursuit route by foot. Fortunately, Deputy T.A. Vasquez located the jettisoned Taurus .40 caliber handgun before it could be used for more mischief.

Islas was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, brandishing, DUI second offense in five years, eluding, obstruction, and reckless driving. He was held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

This is an ongoing investigation.