Arlington County police announced on Monday that officers have arrested a suspect in a series of incidents on local trails involving an “aggressive cyclist” who allegedly yelled obscenities, exposed his buttocks, and hit pedestrians he encountered on the trail.
A 55-year-old man, David Marlowe, now faces charges of robbery, three counts of assault and battery, and five counts of indecent exposure. Marlow also faces a count of felony possession with intent to distribute marijuana, though it was not immediately clear if this charge was related to the trail assaults.
Throughout the month of August, police say they received five separate reports about an “aggressive cyclist involved in confrontations with pedestrians walking along trails.” Based on evidence and witness interviews, detectives believed the same individual was responsible for all of them, per county officials.
In all but one of these incidents, the cyclist allegedly hit someone and, in three, he allegedly exposed his buttocks, per Arlington police.
In an August 11 incident emblematic of the reports, the cyclist allegedly approached two people on the Four Mile Run Trail and yelled at them to stay on the right side of the yellow line. When one person yelled back, the cyclist circled the pair on his bike before pulling down his shorts and exposing his buttocks, according to a release from the county.
He then allegedly struck one pedestrian in the arm and tried, unsuccessfully, to take the other’s phone.
On Friday, Arlington police released an image and description of the man suspected in the incidents. Law enforcement said they received numerous tips and leads from the community which led to Marlowe.
The investigation is ongoing, police said. Marlowe is being held on no bond at the Arlington County detention facility.