Suspect charged in October reckless driving incidents

Ricardo Avilez-Blanco, 27, of no fixed address, has been charged with one felony count of eluding, one felony count of attempted malicious wounding, one felony count of hit and run causing injury, one felony count of destruction of property, one misdemeanor count of assault, and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving.

The charges stem from a series of reckless driving incidents that occurred on Oct. 14. At approximately 4 p.m. that afternoon, a Leesburg Police officer attempted to stop a white Chevrolet Camaro for speeding. The driver took off at a high rate of speed westbound on East Market Street and officers ultimately opted not to pursue the vehicle in consideration of public safety.

The vehicle was located shortly thereafter in the area of Heritage High School (520 Evergreen Mills Road SE). The vehicle again fled at a high rate of speed and law enforcement again ultimately opted not to pursue the vehicle in consideration of public safety.

Leesburg Police officers located the Chevrolet Camaro parked unoccupied in a parking lot in the 700 block of Fieldstone Drive NE around 1 a.m. the following morning. The vehicle was seized at that time to be processed for evidence.

Through an ongoing investigation, Leesburg Police detectives positively identified the driver of the Chevrolet Camaro as Ricardo Avilez-Blanco. On Dec. 9, a Loudoun County Magistrate issued the above listed felony charges against Avilez-Blanco, and on Dec. 11, a Loudoun County Grand Jury indicted him on all six listed charges.

Avilez-Blanco was recently arrested on unrelated charges in Arizona. He remains held at the Pinal County Detention Center in Arizona on the LPD charges and the unrelated charges. The Office of the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney has issued nationwide extradition for Avilez-Blanco to be returned to Loudoun County to face these charges.