It was supposed to be a career on the rise. In early 2024, the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) was busy celebrating its ranks during Women’s History Month, even featuring a promising rookie in a social media spotlight. That rookie was Sierra Alston police officer. Fast forward just a few months, and the narrative did a complete 180-degree turn. Instead of patrolling the streets of Maryland, Alston found herself on the other side of the yellow tape, facing felony charges that sound more like a plot from a Hollywood heist movie than a standard personnel file.
Basically, the situation is a mess.
When people search for information on the Sierra Alston case, they often find snippets of news reports about "stolen BMWs" and "unauthorized use." But the actual details in the court documents are far weirder. It wasn't just one car. It was three. And the breadcrumbs left behind weren't exactly high-tech—we’re talking about a misplaced police jacket and an Instagram account synced to a dashboard. Honestly, it’s one of those stories that leaves seasoned investigators scratching their heads.
The Reagan National Airport Investigation
The trouble started at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Between February and April of 2024, the SIXT Rental Corp began noticing some major inventory gaps. They weren't just missing keys; they were missing high-end German engineering. Specifically, three BMWs had vanished from their lot without a single rental agreement on file.
Repo agents eventually tracked the cars down at various spots across D.C. and Prince George’s County. Once the vehicles were towed back to the SIXT facility, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police moved in to sweep for evidence. What they found inside the first car was a "smoking gun" in the most literal sense of police branding: a female PGPD officer’s jacket.
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Alongside the jacket were personal documents.
Things got even more specific when investigators checked the infotainment systems. In the modern age, your car knows your phone. One of the BMWs had been synced to an Instagram account belonging to Sierra Alston. It’s a rookie mistake that would be ironic if it weren't so legally damaging.
A Trail of Digital and Physical Evidence
You’ve probably seen news reports mention a hospital visit. This is where the timeline gets concrete. According to investigators, Alston’s boyfriend had been assaulted in March 2024. Court records allege that Sierra Alston police officer used one of the "borrowed" BMWs to drive him to a local hospital.
Why does this matter? Because D.C. police were already there.
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A police report from that night placed her at the scene with the vehicle. Furthermore, investigators pulled cell tower data. The pings showed her phone was consistently near the DCA rental facility during the exact windows when the cars went missing. When confronted by an investigator earlier in the spring, the story she allegedly gave was a bit thin. She claimed she had taken an Uber and simply lost her jacket. When told the car was seen in front of her house, she reportedly claimed she didn't even live there.
It didn't stick.
The Suspension and Legal Fallout
On October 3, 2024, the situation reached its boiling point. Alston was arrested and hit with three counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle. The PGPD didn't wait long to act, suspending her without pay immediately following the charges.
Current Status of the Case
- Employment: Suspended without pay from the Prince George’s County Police Department.
- Charges: Three counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle (felony level).
- Jurisdiction: The case is being handled primarily through the Arlington County court system due to the location of the thefts.
During her arraignment, the scene was tense. Cameras captured her leaving the courthouse, clearly frustrated, telling reporters to get the "cameras out of my face." At the time of the investigation, sources indicated Alston had been on light duty due to pregnancy, which added another layer of complexity to the department's internal handling of the case.
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Why the PGPD Background Check is Under Fire
A big question people are asking is: How did she get hired? PGPD confirmed that Alston underwent a full background check before joining the force in 2023. She was still in her probationary period when the alleged crimes occurred. Under Maryland’s Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights (LEOBR), even probationary officers have certain procedural protections, which is why the termination process isn't always instant, despite the severity of the charges.
This case has reignited a local debate about "rookie culture" and the vetting process for new recruits. When a department is desperate to fill vacancies, do things slide? Or was this just a case of an individual making remarkably poor personal choices that no background check could have predicted?
Lessons from the Sierra Alston Incident
For the public and for those in law enforcement, there are a few clear takeaways from this unfolding saga.
First, the "Internet of Things" is a witness that never sleeps. Between Bluetooth syncing and cell tower pings, the idea of "borrowing" a vehicle without a paper trail is a thing of the past. Second, the reputational damage to a department happens much faster than the legal resolution. The PGPD is still working to rebuild community trust, and a headline about an officer driving stolen BMWs is a massive step backward.
If you are following this case, keep an eye on the Arlington County court dates. The transition from "unauthorized use" to "theft" often depends on the intent proven in court. For now, Alston remains suspended, and her once-promising career in law enforcement is effectively on ice while the legal system grinds forward.
To stay informed on the progression of this case:
- Monitor the Arlington County General District Court records for upcoming hearing dates.
- Check official PGPD press releases for updates on her employment status.
- Follow local investigative journalists in the D.C. area who are tracking the broader investigation into the 30+ cars stolen from the Reagan National lot.