We've come up with a generation of people who don't think they are accountable for their actions. Some of this is comical. Some is criminal. Both have to be stopped.
Negotiate? What is there to negotiate…All of it began the first time some of you who know better…let young people think that they had the right to choose the laws they would obey as long as they were doing it in the name of social protest.
Governor Ronald Reagan on the riots at Burkley University CA
May 15, 1969
A now former attorney of the US Department of Justice was arrested for assaulting a federal agent. Ironic, he was in the Criminal Division. I looked into it and it shows how some people think they can take idiotic or illegal actions, and not face any consequences. Particularly when dealing with the cops.
Mr. Sean Dunn was upset with the presence of federal agents on the street of DC:
Man arrested after sandwich thrown at federal agent in Washington DC
An employee at the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has been arrested for throwing a Subway sandwich at a federal agent deployed to Washington DC as part of President Donald Trump's vow to crackdown on crime.
Sean Charles Dunn, who had worked in the DOJ Criminal Division, was fired after video of the incident emerged. He is being charged with felony assault...
According to charging documents, Mr Dunn allegedly threw a "submarine-style sandwich" at a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer on Sunday May 10th.
In a video of the incident, which prosecutors cite in their charges, the suspect is heard calling the agents "fascists" and screaming profanities directed at them.
"Why are you here? I don't want you in my city," he yells before crossing the road.
He later returns and is seen hurling the wrapped sandwich into the chest of a uniformed agent, who appears to be wearing a bulletproof vest.
He then flees on foot as officers give chase. According to prosecutors, Mr Dunn confessed after he was arrested on Wednesday, telling investigators: "I did it. I threw a sandwich."
OK, not wanting cops around you, fine. Scream your objections? Not mature, but you are not dealing with an adult here. He walked away, he could have cooled off or gone home. But he returned. Why? He doesn't like cops doing their jobs, so he threw the sandwich at the agent. Assumedly he did not buy the sub just to throw it at the agent, but we'll let that slide for the moment.
First question is did he commit a crime? Yes. From the video, the agents on a line on a sidewalk, and Mr. Dunn is screaming like the spoiled child he is. He then throws the sandwich at the agent and runs. Mr. Dunn is captured quickly and was booked for "one felony count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officer." From Cornell Law: 18 U.S. Code § 111 - Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees
(a)In General.—Whoever—
(1)forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with any person designated in section 1114 of this title while engaged in or on account of the performance of official duties; or
(2)forcibly assaults or intimidates any person who formerly served as a person designated in section 1114 on account of the performance of official duties during such person’s term of service, shall, where the acts in violation of this section constitute only simple assault, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, and where such acts involve physical contact with the victim of that assault or the intent to commit another felony, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.
So you know, Section 1114 deals with officers of the United States.
District of Columbia US Attorney Pirro was rather direct on the matter:
Let me be clear, if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, be certain we will come after you with the full weight of the law. Our officers have a job to do, and they should not be abused in the process. This alleged assault is no joke – it’s a serious crime, and those who think otherwise will learn just how gravely mistaken they are.”
On behalf of all the cops in this country Ms. Pirro, thank you. The agents were standing there taking this verbal abuse (part of the job, fine). But when he decides to make it physical, that changes everything.
In over 25 years on the street, countless times I've had people intrude on my police actions. I was conducting a DWI investigation when the driver's friend got very close to me with her phone. I told her to get to the sidewalk, and she screamed she was videotaping me, "It's my right!". I explained to her, "This is your one warning. Get on the sidewalk now or I will arrest you!" She got the idea, backed off and continued to record me. To answer the question, the charge would have been Interfering with Police Investigation or Walking in street where sidewalk provided.
One of my officers, after pulling a car over, had the driver run. The man made it two blocks when he jumped into the back of a pick up truck in the middle of the street. The suspect called mom while the officer was trying to stop him. Mom had her daughter and grandson in the truck with her. Fortunately another unit arrived and the truck was stopped.
As my officers were taking the suspect and mom into custody, the daughter started to get in front of the cops, trying to stop the arrest. After I arrived and was briefed on the matter, I said one thing. "Hook her ass up!" The daughter was booked along with mom for Interfering with Police Investigation, and we should have booked both for endangering the two-year-old boy.
From this side of the Thin Blue Line, there is something understood. You can argue with us, we're not here to argue. You can scream at us, we don't care. We have a job, to abide by and enforce the law. That's what these agents were doing. It’s something a now former officer of the Department of Justice should have remembered. You may not like us, you may disagree with us, but we will do our duty to the best of our ability. You don't like having cops in a high crime area, run for office, complaint to your city council. But you will not hinder our enforcement of the laws without consequence.
Maybe if someone had raised Mr. Dunn if he has an issue with the cops, there are options. Screaming like a spoiled three-year-old and assaulting the agent is not one of them. Mr. Dunn, you made your bed, now you lay in it. I only pray they don't plea bargain this out, you deserve to lose your law license. Agents, well done, you acted properly and professionally. Stay safe out there.
I’m the police. And I’m here to arrest you. You’ve broken the law. I did not write the law. I may even disagree with the law. But I will enforce it. No matter how you plead, cajole, beg, or attempt to stir my sympathies, nothing you do will stop me from placing you in a steel cage with grey bars. If you run away, I will chase you. If you fight me, I will fight back. If you shoot at me, I will shoot back. By law, I am unable to walk away.
Brian Taylor, End of Watch
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