Leesburg, VA (August 30, 2024) — A traffic stop in Leesburg late Thursday night led to the arrest of an Ashburn man on several serious charges, highlighting concerns about public safety on our roads.
At around 11:42 p.m., a Leesburg Police officer pulled over a vehicle speeding at 85 mph in a 45 mph zone on E. Market Street. The driver, 28-year-old Jimmy F. Lopez Gomez of Ashburn, was found to be intoxicated, driving without a valid license, and using an altered license plate. A search of the vehicle revealed a firearm with a tampered serial number.
Lopez Gomez faces multiple charges, including:
- Driving While Intoxicated (DWI – 4th offense)
- DWI Refusal of Tests (2nd offense)
- Carrying a Concealed Weapon
- Removal or Alteration of Serial Number (Firearm)
- Obstruction of Justice
- Driving on a Suspended License After DWI
- Altering a License Plate
- Speeding
Leesburg Police Chief Thea Pirnat emphasized the seriousness of the incident, stating, “This arrest underscores the critical importance of our vigilant enforcement efforts in curbing dangerous driving behaviors such as excessive speeding. The combination of high speed, alcohol impairment, and the presence of a firearm illegally in the vehicle poses a grave risk to public safety.”
Lopez Gomez was taken to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center, where he is being held pending a bond review.
