ARLINGTON, VA — A federal grand jury has indicted a man accused of assaulting and injuring a federal officer inside Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery, according to court records.
The two-count indictment, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, charges Abraham Beeharnha Gayetaye with assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer involving physical contact and bodily injury. It also charges him with unlawfully entering military property.
The charges stem from a July 14 encounter at Arlington House, where prosecutors allege Gayetaye forcibly interfered with a civilian U.S. Army police officer performing official duties. The indictment alleges the encounter involved physical contact and caused bodily injury to the officer.
The second count alleges Gayetaye knowingly and unlawfully entered Arlington National Cemetery for a prohibited purpose and reentered the military installation after previously being removed.
Gayetaye had initially been charged by criminal complaint with assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal law enforcement officer. The indictment adds the unlawful entry count as the case moves forward before U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.
RELATED: Man Held In Alleged Assault At Historic House In Arlington National Cemetery
Court records show Gayetaye remains in federal custody without bond. His arraignment, originally scheduled for Aug. 19, was reset for 10 a.m. Aug. 26 in federal court in Alexandria.
An indictment is a formal accusation and does not establish guilt. Gayetaye is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
According to an affidavit filed by a U.S. Park Police officer, Gayetaye was first arrested July 13 after a National Park Service employee reportedly saw him on security footage unlawfully entering Arlington House. Police cited him for trespassing and gave him a court date.
The same employee contacted U.S. Park Police around 7:04 a.m. the following day after seeing a person's leg in one of the beds inside the historic house, the affidavit said. An alarm had sounded around 3:35 a.m.
Responding officers found Gayetaye lying in a bed in a second-floor bedroom, according to the affidavit. When an officer told him he was under arrest and tried to handcuff him, Gayetaye allegedly resisted, leading to a struggle.
Prosecutors allege Gayetaye grabbed a Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall officer by the neck and throat. The officer sustained bleeding scratches to his neck and chin, a cut to his right index finger, abrasions and scratches on his right elbow, and pain in his shoulder and back, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also alleges Gayetaye pulled at the right side of the officer's torso near the officer's duty belt, where his service weapon was located. Additional officers eventually secured Gayetaye and took him into custody.
Gayetaye made his initial court appearance July 15 before U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Fitzpatrick, who granted the government's request for detention.
At a July 17 preliminary and detention hearing, the court found probable cause supporting the original assault charge. Fitzpatrick denied Gayetaye's request for release under bond conditions and ordered him held pending trial.
Under federal law, assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer while causing bodily injury is punishable by up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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