USAO: Man charged for assaulting officers during pro-Palestine protest near Union Station

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — A man from Chicago was arrested Thursday morning and charged for assaulting two U.S. Park Police (USPP) officers during a pro-Palestine demonstration outside of Union Station in July, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) .

According to court documents, several groups applied for and were granted permits to demonstrate on the National Mall on July 24. An organization was granted a permit for the Columbus Circle area outside Union Station.

Demonstrators began to gather in Columbus Circle at around 2:50 p.m.

Just before 3:30 p.m., however, USPP officials revoked their permit.

At around 3 p.m., USPP officers were trying to arrest someone for pulling down a flag from a flagpole in the circle. That person fled and officers caught up with him in the crowd.

That’s when officials say 24-year-old Zachary Kam approached a USPP officer from behind, grabbed the top of his vest and pulled him to the ground, “dragging him several feet.” The officer sustained scrapes and bruises.

This was captured in videos and photos shared on social media, as well as officers’ body-worn cameras.

A second officer chased after Kam as he ran into the crowd, but was not able to catch him.

A few moments later, Kam returned, grabbed the second officer’s vest and pulled him to the ground.

He then ran back into the crowd and escaped, as detailed in court documents.

Using open-source footage, officials were able to identify Kam as the person responsible due to his tattoos, a bracelet he was wearing and a later search of his backpack.

Kam was charged with two counts of assaulting, resisting, opposing, intimidating, interfering, or impeding certain officers or employees.

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