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Maryland Lawyer Charged With Assault After Spitting in Face of National Guard in Washington, D.C.

A Maryland attorney is facing felony charges after allegedly spitting on two National Guard soldiers patrolling outside Union Station in the nation’s capital as part of President Donald Trump’s law-and-order initiative, as reported [1] by The Blaze.

Scott J. Pichon, 33, was arrested on Friday and charged with felony assault for the incident. According to court documents, Pichon was riding an electric scooter when he allegedly targeted two members of the South Carolina National Guard who were stationed on patrol.

Amtrak Police Sergeant Robert Underwood stated that he heard Pichon make “a noise like he was coughing up mucus” before observing him spit “a mixture of saliva and mucus” at the troops. One soldier was struck in the face and the other in the neck.

Pichon was taken into custody and appeared in court on Tuesday. Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey released him on his own recognizance after the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not object to his release.

The alleged assault is the second incident in recent weeks involving attacks on federal or military personnel stationed in Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, Sean Charles Dunn, 37, a resident of the city, was accused of throwing a Subway sandwich [6] at a federal officer.

He also faces felony charges.

The deployment of National Guard troops to D.C. was ordered by President Trump in response to the city’s rising crime rates, including spikes in carjackings, robberies, and assaults. Federal and local law enforcement have been conducting joint patrols and crackdowns across the city.

Image Credit: © Danny Wild-Imagn Images [7]
Dec 8, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; President Donald Trump stands with West Point cadets during the 119th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced updated figures on the results of the security surge. Since the operation began, officers have made 1,094 arrests and seized 155 illegal firearms.

“Not a single carjacking in over a week. We continue to fight the fight to make sure that people in D.C. are safe,” Pirro said.

“President Trump is cleaning it up.”

The latest arrest highlights the ongoing resistance from some individuals opposed to Trump’s strategy of using federal personnel and National Guard soldiers to secure Washington’s streets.

Despite the pushback, officials say the deployment has already had measurable success in reducing crime.