Two off-duty federal agents helped subdue a man who allegedly swung a knife at a passenger on a Metro Yellow Line train Monday afternoon.
When the man declined to give him money, Robinson pulled out a folding knife and lunged at him, coming within three inches of his face, according to Metro spokesman Dan Stessel.
At that point, the victim fled to a railcar where two law enforcement officers — a U.S. Border Patrol agent and a deputy U.S. Marshal — were sitting.
The Border Patrol agent and the victim barricaded the passageway between train cars, “keeping the suspect in the other car,” according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Later, when the Border Patrol officer told passengers she was an armed federal agent, the off-duty Deputy U.S. Marshal announced himself to the train car as well, according to the release. Meanwhile, passengers began dialing 911, Stessel said.
“The agent and marshal developed a plan of action for when the train car stopped—the marshal was to engage the suspect physically and the BP agent would back him up with her weapon drawn,” the news release said.
When Robinson exited at the next stop, Braddock Road, the officers converged, commanding him to drop to the ground. Robinson complied and the officers pinned him down until Metro Transit Police arrived.
Police recovered the folding knife and a “rock-like” substance that tested positive for crack-cocaine, Stessel said. Robinson was charged with attempted malicious wounding and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
The Border Patrol agent, who was not identified, declined to be interviewed.
“I was just doing my job,” she said in a statement. ” I appreciate the kudos, but this is what we train for every day.”
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