On November 14 at 11:04 p.m., Deputy A.G. Booth responded to 72 Austin Park Drive (Wawa) for a report of a drunk driver. Upon arrival, the deputy located the suspect exiting the store with several food items. The deputy noticed the suspect smelled of alcoholic beverages and was unsteady on his feet. The deputy asked the suspect for his identification, but he repeatedly refused to provide his name. The suspect was taken into custody for public intoxication and obstruction of justice. He then became belligerent and resisted deputies’ attempts to place him in a patrol vehicle. During the encounter, the suspect kicked two deputies.

As deputies placed the suspect in a patrol vehicle he grabbed a deputy’s tie and refused to let go until the tie became detached from the deputy’s uniform. Deputies were eventually able to transport the suspect to the magistrate’s office where he provided a false identity.

Deputy Booth was later able to identify the suspect as Thad McLaughlin Jr., 33, of Woodbridge. Further investigation revealed there was an open bottle of liquor in the vehicle McLaughlin had driven to the business. It was also learned he had stolen several of the items he was seen leaving the store with. McLaughlin was charged with driving under the influence-3rd offense in 10 years, three counts of assault on a law enforcement officer, providing false identification to law enforcement, obstruction of justice, obstruction of justice by force, drinking while operating a vehicle, driving after forfeiture of license, driving on a revoked license, public intoxication, larceny, and destruction of property. He was held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.