Sandwich Throwing Incident at Anti-Crime Protests
A man was filmed hurling a sandwich at a federal officer during President Donald Trump’s anti-crime protests in Washington, D.C. Charges against him were eventually dismissed.
Sean Charles Dunn’s attorney claimed that his act of throwing the sandwich was a form of protest, protected under the First Amendment, describing it as a “harmless gesture.”
“Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” Dunn reportedly shouted at the officers just before the incident, according to the indictment.
On Thursday, a jury of 12 found in favor of the defense. The jurors, along with the judge overseeing the case, declined to give any statements to the press afterward.
Initially, the Department of Justice aimed for a felony assault charge, but the grand jury dismissed this. A lesser charge of misdemeanor assault was later pursued by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
After throwing the sandwich, Dunn attempted to flee but was subsequently caught by the authorities.
Customs and Border Protection Officer Gregory Laremore testified in court that he felt the sandwich’s impact “through my bulletproof vest” and described it as “exploding all over my body.” He added that his uniform was left reeking of onions and mustard and stained with mustard.
The defense questioned Officer Laremore about jokes exchanged among the officers regarding the incident, suggesting an undertone of ridicule towards it.
Before his arrest, Dunn worked as an international affairs specialist at the U.S. Department of Justice but was terminated shortly thereafter.
The sandwich-throwing episode gained traction among some left-leaning individuals as a symbol of dissent against Trump’s anti-crime strategies.
Dunn expressed gratitude toward supporters outside the courthouse, proclaiming, “Despite everything that happened, I’m very happy that justice prevailed. I believe that night I was defending the rights of immigrants.” He added, “All lives matter, regardless of where they come from. Everyone should have the right to live freely.”
In August, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged that increased federal law enforcement had contributed to lower crime rates, though some Democrats criticized her for attributing any credit to Trump’s policies.
