Crime & Safety
DNA Leads Police To Arrest In February Home Invasion
The following arrest information was supplied by the Fairfax County police department. It does not indicate a conviction.
An Alexandria man was arrested Wednesday in connection to the February burglary of an 82-year-old Mount Vernon woman's home, police said Wednesday afternoon.
Fairfax County police arrested Bernell Gripper, 45, at around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. He was charged with abduction, robbery, burglary, and disabling a telephone line to prevent help.
The incident occurred at around 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 in the 8000 block of Russell Road. According to the police report, the suspect grabbed the victim and forced her into another room while he disabled the home phone and took her cell phone. The suspect made off with the woman's 1989 Pontiac Firebird, which was recovered three days later in the Beacon Hill area.
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Gripper will be held at the county adult dentention center without bond.
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