Man Wanted For Pointing Laser Into DC Police Officer's Eye

WASHINGTON, DC — Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking the public's help in identifying a suspect they pointed a laser pointer into the eye of a MPD officer, according to a police release.

Around 1:07 a.m., on Aug. 30, police say the man directed a laser pointer into the eye of an MPD officer, who then had to be taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The incident took place in the 800 block of 16th St., N.W.

MPD released photos of the suspect:

Police ask anyone who can identify the individual in the photos or has knowledge of the incident to call 202-727-9099 or submit an anonymous tip via text to 50411.

On Friday, Aug 28, thousands of demonstrators gathered on the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial for the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. This year's event, titled The Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks, focused on calls to end racial injustice and police violence against people of color.

What District officials saw over the rest of the weekend, though, was very different. In contrast to the peaceful protesters Friday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Aug. 31 that outside agitators appeared in the city, bringing weapons they would use to destroy property in the city and disrupt the protests.

"On Saturday and Sunday night .... were agitators who descended on the city," the mayor said. "It sounds like they came on Wednesday and Thursday armed for battle: fireworks, baseball bats, laser pointers, and they were looking for the police to confront. They set fire to local newspaper boxes, accomplishing absolutely nothing."

Over Sunday night, a group of more than 100 people marched throughout the city. At 9 p.m., the group set two small fires near the White House, which were quickly extinguished. As the group marched toward Thomas Circle around 10:15 p.m., some of the agitators fired smoke bombs, fireworks, and other munitions toward police, MPD Chief Peter Newsham said, on Aug. 31. They also defaced property with spray paint.

"At 11:45 p.m., they became increasingly aggressive," Newsham said. "They were spitting, hurling balloons filled with urine at police officers. Bricks and bottles were also thrown at our officers, as well as fireworks."

One tried to strike an MPD motor officer with a vehicle, which was later stopped by the Virginia State Police, who took the occupants into custody.

In total, MPD arrested 14 people Sunday night, charging them with felony rioting. Five officers were injured and two vehicles were damaged.

Also see ...

DC Mayor Fears Race War, Concerned Over Outside Agitators