Deli item launched by demonstrator reportedly burst and caused mustard stain on customs official, court hears
A American border officer has testified he could feel through his ballistic vest the collision of a food product hurled at him by a Washington DC protester, who has gone on trial for assault.
Customs and Border Patrol agent the officer informed the court panel the snack "shattered all over him" and he "could smell the onions and mustard" on his official attire.
Both legal teams contests that Sean Dunn, 37, did in fact lob profanities and a prepared food item at law enforcement assigned by the administration to patrol the federal district in August.
The event was recorded on recording and became popular online, making the defendant a figure of dissent in the federal district to the former president.
Government prosecutors initially tried to obtain major offense allegations against the defendant, but a grand jury refused to prosecute him.
The administration's deployment of military personnel to the capital this summer sparked outrage from some of the DC citizens, who saw it as a partisan deployment of the armed forces.
According to court papers, the accused walked up to a police contingent at about 11 PM on 10 August, calling them "fascists" and exclaiming: "What is your purpose? I don't want you in my city!"
The court observed a re-enactment from the officer on Tuesday as he took the stand against Mr Dunn.
"I could feel it through my protective gear," he testified of the food's collision, adding that an vegetable piece remained from his communication device and condiment stained his uniform.
The accused's lawyer, Julia Gatto, stated in her court presentation that hurling the deli product was a "innocent action that did not, could not, cause injury".
But government attorney the prosecutor argued the accused must be considered responsible.
"Whatever your status, you should not launching items at individuals because you're mad," the attorney stated.
Following the claimed attack was revealed, the defendant was fired from his employment as a legal assistant in the government law department.
