Stanley Man Accused of Breaking Into Front Royal Apartment With Gasoline
FRONT ROYAL, Va. — A Stanley man was taken into custody Monday after police said surveillance video showed him forcibly entering a Front Royal apartment while carrying containers believed to contain gasoline.
On August 10, 2026, members of the Front Royal Police Department (FRPD) and Warren County Fire and Rescue responded to 613 North Royal Avenue about 7:50 a.m. — after receiving a report of a strong gasoline odor inside an apartment building.
Officers arriving at the scene found an apartment door that appeared to have been forced open.
While checking the residence, officers detected a strong gasoline odor throughout the apartment and found several items inside had been destroyed, according a FRPD media statement.
Officers contacted the tenant, who told investigators she had been out of town for the weekend and was returning home.
Detectives with the FRPD’s Criminal Investigations Division and investigators with Warren County Fire and Rescue responded to assist with the investigation and examine the residence.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the apartment building that police said showed a man forcibly entering the apartment while carrying two containers believed to contain gasoline.
Police identified the man as Richard Wilson Terrell, 42. Investigators said Terrell was an acquaintance of the tenant.
Later that afternoon, an automated license plate reader alerted officers to a vehicle driven by Terrell traveling south on North Shenandoah Avenue.
Officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in the 1700 block of North Shenandoah Avenue.
According to police, Terrell was taken into custody without incident.
Terrell was transported to the RSW Regional Jail, where he was charged with the following offenses:
• § 18.2-90, Entering dwelling house with intent to commit arson
• § 18.2-77, Attempted Arson
• § 18.2-422, Wearing a mask to conceal identity
• § 18.2-119, Trespassing after being forbidden to do so
• § 18.2-137, Destruction of Property (>$1,000.00)
This investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Sgt. M.P. Gallagher at 540-636-2208 or at mgallagher@frontroyalva.com.