WASHINGTON – In a single day, a Republican congressman from New Jersey voted in the House, was robbed of his wallet and, police say, chased and caught a suspect.
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen appeared disinclined to reap publicity from the latter two events, which occurred Thursday night in Georgetown. In a brief statement, he praised police and said nothing about his role in the arrest of the suspect. The lawmaker was uninjured.
Frelinghuysen, 61, was walking along Wisconsin Avenue when a group of men came up behind him, officers said. One asked if he wanted to buy candy. When he declined, the police said, one of the men took his wallet and fled.
Frelinghuysen pursued the man, whom police described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 270 pounds, for two blocks.
Police officers saw the chase, but before they could intervene, Frelinghuysen caught the suspect, Lt. Josiah Eaves said. He said an 18-year-old Washington man was arrested and charged with robbery.
Authorities said the wallet was recovered.
Police often advise against chasing robbers, but former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, a longtime acquaintance, called it “so Rodney.” She said, “He's not about to let somebody get away with something he thinks is not on the up-and-up.”
