Food item hurled by demonstrator reportedly shattered and created mustard stain on customs official, legal proceedings reveal
A American border officer has declared in court he could feel through his ballistic vest the impact of a food product hurled at him by a DC demonstrator, who has stood before a judge for physical attack.
Customs and Border Patrol agent the officer informed the jury the food item "burst all over him" and he "could smell the vegetables and mustard" on his official attire.
Neither side disputes that Sean Dunn, in his thirties, did in fact hurl vulgar language and a prepared food item at law enforcement assigned by President Donald Trump to secure the nation's capital in August.
The incident was recorded on recording and became popular online, making the accused a symbol of opposition in the federal district to the former president.
Federal attorneys originally tried to achieve major offense allegations against Mr Dunn, but a grand jury refused to charge him.
The former president's assignment of armed forces to Washington DC this season generated outrage from some of the city's residents, who viewed it as a partisan deployment of the armed forces.
According to court papers, the defendant came near a law enforcement team at about 23:00 on 10 August, describing them "authoritarians" and exclaiming: "Why are you present? I don't want you in my city!"
The trial witnessed a reenactment from the officer on the trial day as he took the stand against Mr Dunn.
"I could feel it through my ballistic vest," he testified of the item's force, noting that an onion string remained from his communication device and sauce marked his shirt.
The accused's lawyer, Julia Gatto, argued in her opening statement that throwing the sandwich was a "non-threatening act that did not, could not, result in harm".
But prosecutor the state's representative said the accused must be considered responsible.
"Regardless of identity, you can't just go around hurling objects at others because you're upset," the attorney said.
Subsequent to the alleged assault came to light, Mr Dunn was terminated from his position as a legal assistant in the Department of Justice.