A Metropolitan Police Department officer suffered a non-life-threatening injury yesterday when a theft incident turned violent, leading to the arrest of 45-year-old Ian Andre Zephryin. According to a statement from the Metropolitan Police Department, the events unfolded around 8:35 a.m. in the 2000 block of 8th Street, Northwest, where officers confronted Zephryin as he was leaving a store with allegedly stolen goods. When the officers attempted to engage, the situation quickly escalated near the 600 block of Florida Avenue, Northwest.
The suspect reportedly became aggressive, assaulting the officer who was trying to stop him. When an additional officer tried to use Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray to subdue Zephryin, he managed to quickly produce a knife and swung it, causing a laceration to the first officer's forehead. It was only after additional law enforcement demanded that the suspect drop the knife that he complied and was taken into custody. The injured officer received treatment at a local hospital soon after the altercation.
Zephryin now faces multiple charges, including Assault with Intent to Kill, Felony Assault on a Police Officer, Second Degree Theft, and Resisting Arrest.
