Man Charged in April Assault at Eastern Market Station Arrested for Punching Metro Police Officer
(Updated at 12:15 p.m.)Elijah Smith, the 19-year-old who pleaded guilty to punching a 69-year-old man in the Eastern Market Metro station in April, was arrested again last night for assaulting a Metro Transit Police Department officer.
Smith was arrested for punching the officer last night, according to a tweet from the Metro Transit Police.
Elijah Smith, on release pending sentencing for Apr24 felony assault on 69yo at E Mkt, REARRESTED overnight for punching MTPD officer #wmata
— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) October 21, 2015
The arrest last night occurred near the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station, according to the arrest report. Smith started arguing with two officers. When one officer walked away, Smith grabbed the back of the officer’s jacket and punched him about six times in the face, the report states. The officers used pepper spray to subdue Smith, who later said to the officers he “took five pills and was drinking,” according to police.
In May, Smith was arrested and charged with simple assault after punching the 69-year-old man on an escalator in the Eastern Market station on April 24. Smith pleaded guilty in September and was on release from jail while he awaited sentencing.
