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Police Pepper Spray Man in Crystal City Metro Station

Metro transit police vehicle (file photo)Metro Transit Police pepper sprayed a man who allegedly assaulted a station manager and a police officer in the Crystal City Metro station this afternoon.

Arlington County paramedics were called to the station around 1:30 this afternoon, to treat the suspect after the pepper spray incident.

According to Metro spokesman Dan Stessel, then man had “rammed” the Crystal City station manager while attempting to run through the emergency gate to evade the transit fare. Metro Transit Police officers responded to the station and found the man sitting on the floor in the station entrance area, smoking a cigarette.

“As they began talking to the man, the suspect abruptly kicked one of the officers from his position on the floor,” Stessel said. “The officers moved in to make the arrest, and in that process, utilized [pepper] spray to gain compliance. The suspect was arrested without further incident.”

The man is being charged with assault, for bumping the station manager, and assaulting a police officer. The station manager was not injured.

File photo