Russian police officer arrested at Tysons Corner on shoplifting charge

A Russian police officer, in the United States to participate in the World Police and Fire Games, was arrested Tuesday night by Fairfax County police after he was allegedly caught shoplifting from a department store in Tysons Corner, Fairfax police said Wednesday, informs UaPost with reference to The Washington Post.

Police said a loss prevention officer spotted Ruslan Rizaev, 29, attempting to take some clothes from the Macy’s store at Tysons Galleria. He was detained, Fairfax police were called and Rizaev was taken into custody and charged with grand larceny, police spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell said.

In Virginia, theft of any items totaling more than $200 is classified as a felony larceny. Caldwell said police estimated the value of the items allegedly taken was “several hundred dollars.”

Rizaev was held overnight in the Fairfax County jail and appeared before Fairfax General District Court Judge Ian M. O’Flaherty on Wednesday. O’Flaherty set Rizaev’s bond at $1,500 and ordered that he surrender his passport pending a preliminary hearing next week.

The press officer for the Russian Embassy in Washington said he was unaware of the arrest and could not comment.

Rizaev is listed as a member of the Tatarstan Republic Police team competing in the top level of ice hockey at the World Police and Fire Games, which began last week in Northern Virginia and around the region. Tatarstan is a republic of about 3.7 million people in western Russia north of Kazakhstan.

Rizaev is also listed on various Web sites as having played six seasons as a goaltender for teams in Russia’s professional Supreme Hockey League, the second-highest level of hockey in Russia. Last season he was listed with a team in the Russian Hockey League, a lower level of hockey.

Caldwell said Rizaev’s credentials for the World Police and Fire Games had been withdrawn. The Fairfax public defender’s office was appointed Wednesday to represent Rizaev but did not have any details about his case.