In the early hours of October 11, 2024, Fredericksburg police arrested a Manassas man after he attempted to set fire to gas pumps at a local Sheetz. The incident unfolded around 2 a.m. when the E-911 Communications Center received a call from the gas station’s management, reporting that David Rodriguez, 40, who had been banned from the property the day before, was back and behaving erratically.
Rodriguez was spotted in the parking lot trying to set random items on fire, including a candy bar, near a parked car. Officers Taylor and Berry responded but couldn’t find him at first. A bystander described Rodriguez’s strange behavior and pointed them in his direction.
While speaking with the bystander, Officer Taylor saw a man matching Rodriguez’s description approaching the gas station again. As the officers moved toward him, Rodriguez suddenly ran for the gas pumps, grabbing a nozzle and holding a lighter in his other hand—potentially putting everyone in the area at risk.
Acting quickly, Officers Berry and Taylor managed to stop Rodriguez, grabbing his arms before he could ignite anything. He resisted arrest but was ultimately subdued without serious incident.
Rodriguez now faces multiple charges, including arson, vandalism, trespassing, shoplifting, obstruction of justice, and property damage. Thanks to the swift action of the Fredericksburg police, a potentially dangerous situation was averted.