A U.S. Border Patrol agent gave an unbelievable testimony Tuesday in the bizarre trial of Sean Dunn, better known as D.C.’s “Sandwich Tosser.”
Gregory A. Lairmore, a 23-year veteran of the agency, described the moment a Subway sandwich hit him in the chest during a protest in Washington, D.C., last August. While he was not injured, he said the impact was unmistakable.
“It kind of exploded on my chest,” Lairmore said. “I could smell the onions and mustard.” He added that he could feel the impact through his bulletproof vest.
Dunn’s sandwich throw followed a heated exchange in which he called Lairmore and other federal agents “fascists” shortly before the president declared a crime emergency in the city. Viral videos of the incident quickly circulated online, turning Dunn into a local anti-Trump folk hero of sorts.
Prosecutors, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, initially attempted to charge Dunn with felony assault of a federal agent. A grand jury declined to indict, so the government proceeded with a misdemeanor charge.
During opening statements, the prosecution emphasized that while citizens are free to criticize federal officers, physically throwing objects crosses a clear line.
“No matter who you are, you can’t just go around throwing stuff at people because you’re mad,” the prosecutor said, according to HuffPost.
Dunn’s defense team did not deny the sandwich toss but argued that it did not constitute serious bodily harm and therefore does not rise to the level of a felony.
“His conduct is not a federal criminal case, it is not close,” Dunn’s attorney told the court.
The trial has drawn attention for its strange combination of political theater and absurdity, but for Lairmore, the memory of the flying sandwich is unforgettable. A verdict is expected by Wednesday.
