Police: Suspected stabber had prior Va. arrest

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police in northern Virginia say a suspect in a string of 20 stabbings in three states was arrested last week during a traffic stop and later released.

Arlington County police spokeswoman Detective Crystal L. Nosal said Thursday that Elias Abuelazam, who was driving, was pulled over on a routine traffic stop at 1:15 a.m. on Aug. 5.

Nosal says officers found that Abuelazam was wanted on a simple assault warrant out of Leesburg, Va. She says after booking him, a magistrate denied Abuelazam bond, and released him the same day on personal recognizance, meaning he would be responsible for returning to court.