Deli item launched by activist reportedly shattered and left yellow spot on customs official, trial told
A federal customs official has testified he could detect through his ballistic vest the impact of a deli item hurled at him by a Washington DC protester, who has gone on trial for assault.
Customs and Border Patrol agent Gregory Lairmore told the court panel the sandwich "shattered all over him" and he "could smell the onions and condiment" on his uniform.
Both legal teams disputes that Sean Dunn, in his thirties, did in fact throw profanities and a made-to-order snack at officers deployed by the administration to patrol the Washington DC in the summer month.
The occurrence was recorded on camera and spread across the internet, making the accused a symbol of protest in the capital to the former president.
Federal attorneys initially tried to obtain felony charges against the defendant, but a grand jury refused to charge him.
The former president's sending of military personnel to the federal district this warmer months generated anger from some of the local inhabitants, who considered it a partisan deployment of the military.
According to legal filings, the defendant walked up to a police contingent at about late evening on August 10, referring to them "extremists" and shouting: "What is your purpose? You are not welcome in my city!"
The trial saw a demonstration from the officer on the trial day as he testified against the defendant.
"I could feel it through my protective gear," he stated of the food's collision, mentioning that an vegetable piece remained from his police radio and condiment marked his clothing.
The accused's attorney, Julia Gatto, said in her initial argument that throwing the food item was a "non-threatening act that did not, could not, cause injury".
But government attorney the prosecutor argued the defendant must be facing consequences.
"No matter who you are, you can't just go around launching items at individuals because you're upset," the attorney stated.
After the reported incident came to light, the defendant was fired from his job as a legal assistant in the government law department.
