D.C. sandwich-thrower avoids grand jury indictment

A federal grand jury has declined to indict the man who threw a sub sandwich at a federal officer in Washington, D.C., Knewz.com can report. The incident unfolded amid escalating tensions with residents following President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to deploy troops across the city. Despite dropping crime rates there, Trump’s insisted the move is necessary to restore law and order in the nation’s capital.

What happened

Earlier in August, Sean Dunn — a paralegal at the Justice Department — was seen holding a sandwich while speaking to Border Patrol and FBI agents, NBC News reported. A video of the incident shows him at one point yelling at them. “F*** you! You f***ing fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” he said. After allegedly throwing his hoagie in front of a Subway sandwich shop, the 37-year-old ran down the street. Officers gave chase and arrested him. Dunn was then charged in federal court with felony assault on law enforcement.

What the jury’s decision means

The failure to indict Dunn is seen as a sign of opposition from D.C. residents who are unhappy that the president has deployed the National Guard and other law enforcement officers to the capital. Because grand jurors only hear from prosecutors, and because the standard for a grand jury to issue an indictment is probable cause, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the decision is seen as highly unusual. 

Other consequences

Days after the incident, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Dunn had been fired from his job as a paralegal at the Justice Department. “If you touch any law enforcement officer, we will come after you,” she wrote on social media, adding, “Not only is he FIRED, he has been charged with a felony.”

Not off the hook

Dunn is expected to make a preliminary appearance in federal court in the coming days, though it’s unclear if prosecutors will try to get another grand jury to indict him before that happens. If they can’t produce an indictment, they’ll have to reduce the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor — but Dunn could still face up to a year in jail even if the charge is reduced.

Symbol of resistance

After a clip of the incident went viral, Dunn became a symbol of defiance in the city, where walls are now covered with artwork of a man throwing a submarine sandwich. He’s been described as “D.C.’s Hero” by The Washingtonian magazine.

The post D.C. sandwich-thrower avoids grand jury indictment appeared first on Knewz.