A man was pepper sprayed and arrested at the Arlington Cemetery Metro station after he allegedly urinated on a train, assaulted a Metro Transit Police officer and attempted to run onto the track.
Around 9:45 a.m., transit police responded to the Arlington Cemetery station for a report of a suspicious man seen urinating on a Blue Line train and walking between the cars. The train was held at the station as a transit police officer attempted to deal with the suspect.
From Metro spokesman Dan Stessel:
The officer directed the subject to exit the train. He refused to comply. She then asked the other passengers to clear the car for their safety, at which point the male moved past the officer, exited the train and ran toward the end of the platform, pushing other patrons as he attempted to enter the track area.
When confronted again on the platform, the subject attempted to push past the officer, and the officer used her department-issued [pepper] spray to gain control of the situation. The adult male was arrested for Assault on Police Officer. The railcar was isolated and passengers were moved to other cars of the train. Other charges may follow.
An Arlington paramedic unit responded to treat the suspect and the officer for pepper spray-related symptoms. Neither required transport to the hospital, Stessel said.
The 22-year-old suspect was arrested and processed at the Arlington County Detention Center.