Man arrested after sandwich thrown at federal agent in Washington DC

August 14, 2025

Sean Charles Dunn, a former DOJ Criminal Division employee, has been arrested and charged with felony assault for throwing a Subway sandwich at a Customs and Border Patrol officer in Washington DC. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions over President Trump's deployment of federal agents and National Guard troops to the city, which Trump claims is necessary to combat crime despite local police data showing violent crime at a 30-year low. After video evidence emerged showing Dunn calling agents "fascists" before throwing the sandwich, he was fired from his position and now faces up to eight years in prison.

Who is affected

Sean Charles Dunn, the former DOJ Criminal Division employee
The Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer who was hit with the sandwich
Washington DC residents (approximately 700,000 people)
Federal law enforcement agents and National Guard troops deployed to Washington DC
Approximately 100 people who have been arrested since the deployments began

What action is being taken

Federal agents and National Guard troops are being deployed to Washington DC
Trump has placed the city's police department under direct federal control using provisions in the District of Columbia Home Rule Act
Law enforcement is arresting protesters and others, with about 100 arrests made since Monday
Federal prosecutors are pursuing felony assault charges against Dunn despite a local judge declining to press charges
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired Dunn from his position at the DOJ

Why it matters

The incident highlights tensions between Washington DC residents and federal forces deployed by President Trump
There's a significant discrepancy between Trump's crime-fighting justification and local police data showing violent crime at a 30-year low
The situation demonstrates the unique political status of Washington DC, which lacks the same rights as a US state despite having 700,000 residents
The case illustrates different approaches to law enforcement between local and federal authorities, as seen in the conflicting decisions about pressing charges
The severe potential punishment (up to eight years in prison) for throwing a sandwich raises questions about proportionality in federal prosecutions

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC