Two off-duty federal law enforcement officers detained an armed man on the D.C. Metro near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport during the Monday night commute, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection press release issued Tuesday.
A female U.S. Border Patrol agent had been traveling on the rail’s Yellow Line when she witnessed a fight break out between two people in the adjacent car. The victim in the fight tried to escape the attacker by fleeing to her car. That’s when the unnamed Border official took action.
She barricaded the emergency door to keep the assailant in the other car and protect the victim. During the momentary standoff, she noticed the suspect was carrying a knife and appeared to be in an “altered mental state.”
The Border Patrol officer announced to the commuters that she was a federal agent and was armed. That’s when the deputy U.S. Marshal, coincidentally riding in the same train car, announced to passengers he was also a federal agent and developed a plan with the woman to go after the suspect when the train arrived at the airport station.
When they pulled in to the station, the U.S. Marshall ordered the suspect to get on the ground. The suspect exited the adjoining train car and complied. The two held him on the platform until Metro Transit Police took the individual into custody.
The suspect was later charged with possession of cocaine and having attempted malicious wounding.
Border Patrol Chief Mark Morgan applauded his officer and the U.S. Marshal for applying appropriate force in the off-duty interaction.
“It happens more often than you know that our Border Patrol agents — and so many other law enforcers — do the right thing even when they are off duty,” Morgan said in a statement. “I’m very proud of them for taking action and protecting others.”
