Chatham Heights Road Robberies

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – On September 21, 2026, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a robbery in progress at a massage spa on Chatham Heights Road.

Information was provided that the suspect entered the business and was directed to one of the rooms. The suspect then left the room unattended and began entering other rooms and the employee area.

Employees found the suspect in a different room from where the suspect was originally placed. When employees asked the suspect to leave the business, the suspect pepper-sprayed them and fled.

An initial canvas of the nearby area provided no additional information.

Investigators later determined the suspect had stolen money from the business on multiple occasions, including during the Sept. 21 incident.

Working around the clock, detectives collected video footage, conducted interviews and reviewed all available evidence.

On September 24, alongside the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant was executed in the 2200 block of Mallard Landing Drive in Spotsylvania County. The suspect was subsequently arrested.

The suspect was identified as Elijah Thomas Deane, 22, of Spotsylvania. Thomas Deane was charged with three counts of robbery and two counts of illegal use of tear gas, phosgene and other gases.

Thomas Deane was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office thanks the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance during this investigation.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with our community, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life by maintaining order, protecting life and property and reducing the fear of crime. Located in Stafford County, Virginia, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office ensures the peace and safety of all citizens by upholding the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

For more information, visit staffordsheriff.com or email sheriffpio@staffordcountyva.gov.