Crime & Safety
Maryland Man Accused of Attacking Arlington Police Officer in Clarendon
Man had been victim of an assault, according to authorities.
A Maryland man is accused of attacking an Arlington police officer after local authorities attempted to help the man following an assault.
Benjamin Pierce, 22, of Silver Spring, Md., was charged with drunk in public and assault on a police officer.
At about 1:05 a.m. Sunday, officers saw "a severely intoxicated individual lying on the ground" who appeared to be the victim of an assault in the 2800 block of North Clarendon Boulevard, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck told Patch this week.
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When officers went to question the man and offer assistance, Pierce began to strike one of them, Sternbeck said.
Sternbeck said there was "no chance" Pierce could have mistaken the officers for whoever assaulted him in the first place.
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"We were in his presence for a short amount of time, so he knew that we were there," Sternbeck said.
Police took Pierce to an area hospital for treatment and then to jail.
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