By Fatma Younis
A man was arrested near the White House on Monday after making a "finger gun" gesture toward a National Guard service member driving a van along the Ellipse, according to court documents.
Arrest details
William Clark, 28, allegedly held a phone in one hand while making the shooting gesture with the other, an affidavit obtained by The Hill stated. National Guard members detained him until police arrived.
Charges and court
Clark was charged with threats in a menacing manner and assault on a police officer. He pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. A Tuesday court filing showed a misdemeanor charge of assault or threatened assault in a menacing manner, which carries up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Context of National Guard deployment
The arrest comes amid a heightened National Guard presence in Washington, D.C., following President Donald Trump's declaration of a "public safety emergency." The number of Guard soldiers in the city peaked at 5,148 over the summer but fell below 3,000 by September, according to a Pentagon task force.
Other recent arrests
Clark's case is the latest in a series of high-profile arrests. In June, former Olympic canoeist David Hearn was arrested for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, though the felony charge was later dropped. Another protester, Sean Dunn, known as "Sandwich Guy," was charged with misdemeanor assault after throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Patrol agent; he was eventually found not guilty.
