Food item hurled by demonstrator allegedly exploded and caused condiment mark on immigration officer, court hears
A US immigration agent has declared in court he could sense through his protective gear the impact of a food product thrown at him by a Washington DC protester, who has faced court proceedings for assault.
Immigration and customs agent Gregory Lairmore informed the court panel the sandwich "exploded all over him" and he "could smell the vegetables and yellow sauce" on his official attire.
No party contests that the defendant, in his thirties, did in fact lob vulgar language and a prepared food item at law enforcement deployed by the former president to monitor the federal district in August.
The event was captured on recording and became popular online, making Mr Dunn a representation of dissent in the capital to Trump.
State lawyers initially tried to achieve major offense allegations against the defendant, but a grand jury refused to indict him.
The former president's sending of National Guard troops to the federal district this summer sparked anger from some of the DC citizens, who saw it as a politicisation of the armed forces.
According to court papers, Mr Dunn walked up to a law enforcement team at about 23:00 on August 10, describing them "authoritarians" and shouting: "Why are you here? I don't want you in my city!"
The legal proceeding witnessed a demonstration from the officer on Tuesday as he testified against Mr Dunn.
"I detected it through my body armor," he stated of the food's collision, noting that an vegetable piece remained from his police radio and sauce marked his shirt.
The accused's legal counsel, his legal representative, said in her initial argument that hurling the sandwich was a "innocent action that did not, could not, cause injury".
But prosecutor John Parron said Mr Dunn must be considered responsible.
"Whatever your status, you should not hurling objects at others because you're angry," the prosecutor declared.
After the reported incident became public, the accused was dismissed from his employment as a law firm employee in the Department of Justice.
