Gainesville man arrested near CIA headquarters after bringing AK-47 to Virginia preschool

Nora O'Neill, The Gainesville Sun
Updated ·2 min read

A Gainesville man has been charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property after bringing an AK-47 to a preschool in Fairfax County, Virginia.

A Gainesville man has been charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property after bringing an AK-47 to a preschool in Fairfax County, Virginia. He will remain in jail while his case is being heard, a judge decided Thursday.

Eric Sandow, 32, was arrested May 23 after he approached the CIA Headquarters’ gate and allegedly said, “I’m here and I have a gun,” according to CNN. After he was turned away by officers at the gate, his description was reported to the Fairfax County police.

Sandow then made his way to Dolly Madison Preschool, located just 1.5 miles from the headquarters.

“He requested access to the building facilities to use the restroom, which was denied by school staff. At no point did he gain physical entrance to the school building,” the preschool said in a statement on Wednesday. “Fairfax County Police were called and arrested the individual. His car was parked in the main parking lot and was searched and seized. We are grateful for the swift response of the Fairfax County Police Department.”

Fairfax County Police arrested Eric Sandow, 32, of Gainesville, for trespassing at a Virginia preschool Tuesday. The department said on Twitter that officers confiscated an AK-47.
Fairfax County Police arrested Eric Sandow, 32, of Gainesville, for trespassing at a Virginia preschool Tuesday. The department said on Twitter that officers confiscated an AK-47.

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Fairfax County police put out a statement on Twitter, along with a picture of the weapons found in Sandow’s car.

“Yesterday, our officers took an AK-47 off the streets after a man was trespassing at the Dolly Madison Preschool in McLean. Officers found the unarmed man who said he was making his way to the CIA,” police said. “The man was detained [and] search warrant executed on his vehicle.”

Two firearms, including the AK-47 and a pistol, were found in Sandow’s car.

Court records obtained by CNN say Sandow told the officer who arrested him that he worked for the CIA, and he was described as acting incoherent and paranoid.

At a bond hearing Thursday at the Fairfax County General District Court, Judge John Kassabian decided not to release Sandow, agreeing with state prosecutors that it would be too dangerous.

Sandow will appear in court July 24.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville man arrested after bringing AK-47 to Virginia preschool