University of Maryland Police Arrest Washington, D.C., Man After Campus Van Driver Allegedly Waved Toy Rifle and Triggered Assault and Threat Charges Tuesday Morning
COLLEGE PARK, MD — University of Maryland police say they arrested a 40-year-old Washington, D.C., man after a Tuesday morning campus incident that began with reports of a driver in a white Dodge van behaving aggressively and wearing a face covering.
Police said the man was accused of waving what was first described as a weapon at the university. Officers later found that the item was a white gaming rifle used for video games, and they took the driver into custody.
UMD police said the case remains under active investigation. In a safety notice sent to the campus community, the department said criminal charges would follow.
Police say officers were called after aggressive driving on campus
According to preliminary information from the University of Maryland Police Department, officers got a call Tuesday morning about a person in a white Dodge van driving aggressively on campus. The report prompted a police response before the vehicle was located.
Once officers found the van, they discovered the object in question and determined it was not a real firearm. Police identified it as a white gaming rifle used for video games.
The initial response reflected the seriousness with which campus police treated the complaint. The department said the situation involved a possible threat to safety and led to immediate action by officers.
Christopher Alongzo Garner faces multiple assault and threat counts
Police charged Christopher Alongzo Garner, 40, of Washington, D.C., with two counts of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and threat of mass violence. He is also charged with disturbing activities at a college and molesting or threatening students or school personnel.
Garner is being held without bond, according to police. The charges were announced after the arrest in connection with what authorities described as an aggravated assault incident on campus.
Police did not provide additional details about the sequence of events beyond the preliminary account and the charges filed against Garner.
Campus safety notice says the department is still investigating
UMD police said the arrest was made after the incident was reported and the van was located. The department sent a safety notice to the campus community describing the case and confirming that the person had been taken into custody.
That notice said the university police were actively investigating the matter. Campus officials have not announced any broader changes in response to the incident, but the warning underscored the concern created by a report involving a possible weapon.
Police have not said what led to the aggressive driving or why the driver had the gaming rifle in the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.
Why the incident drew attention on a busy campus
The case stood out because the first description involved a driver waving what officers believed could be a weapon on a university campus. Even though police later identified it as a gaming rifle, the initial report prompted a law-enforcement response and a series of criminal charges.
Campuses often rely on quick reporting from students, staff and visitors when something appears threatening. In this case, the combination of an aggressive driving complaint, a face covering and a weapon-like object made the encounter more urgent for responding officers.
Police have not said whether anyone was injured. Based on the charges announced, the incident was handled as a public-safety matter from the start.
What police have confirmed so far about the arrest
As of the latest update, UMD police say Garner remains in custody without bond while the investigation continues. The department has confirmed his name, age, hometown and the charges filed in the case.
Police also confirmed the object that prompted concern was a white gaming rifle used for video games rather than a real firearm. Beyond that, officials have offered only preliminary information and have not released further details about the circumstances leading up to the arrest.
The university police department said the incident is still being reviewed, and any additional findings would come through that investigation.
