Washington, D.C. – Sean Charles Dunn, a 37-year-old man residing in the District, has been charged with felony assault after throwing a Subway sandwich at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent during a tense confrontation in the city. The incident, which has gone viral on social media, happened as federal law enforcement officers increased their presence downtown following a directive from President Donald Trump to address a so-called crime emergency.
The episode unfolded late Sunday night near U Street, where Dunn confronted agents patrolling with Metro Transit Police. According to court documents, Dunn shouted multiple obscenities and called the federal officers “fascists.” While standing just inches from the CBP agent, Dunn allegedly yelled, “F**k you! You f**king fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!”
Shortly thereafter, Dunn crossed the street and forcefully threw a sub-style sandwich directly at the officer’s chest. He then fled the scene, but was quickly apprehended by the pursuing federal officers. After being taken to the police station, Dunn reportedly admitted to the act, saying simply, “I did it. I threw a sandwich.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, led by Jeanine Pirro, announced the federal felony charge on Wednesday. Pirro, addressing the incident with apparent frustration, declared in a video posted on social media, “He thought it was funny. Well, he doesn’t think it’s funny today, because we charged him with a felony: Assault on a police officer. So there, stick your Subway sandwich somewhere else!”
This arrest comes amid President Trump’s recent move to assert increased federal control over the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and deploy the National Guard to combat rising crime rates and homelessness. Hundreds of additional federal agents have been dispatched to Washington, D.C., making over 100 arrests in the process, including gun crimes, immigration violations, drug offenses, and other warrants.
The sandwich attack has drawn divided reactions. Some observers see the incident as symbolic of local frustrations with the federal government’s intervention in city policing. Others condemn Dunn’s actions as disrespectful and dehumanizing toward law enforcement officers performing their duties.
Witness videos captured Dunn’s evasive sprint from the scene, with some bystanders audibly giggling as the man tried to escape. Metro Transit Police confirmed their participation in the patrols as part of the federal crackdown on crime, which remains a controversial topic within the city.
Dunn faces charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and employees of the United States, a felony that carries severe penalties if convicted. The case remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.