Metro Transit Police officer stabbed in the face at Navy Yard station

A Metro Transit Police Department officer was stabbed in the face when attempting to enforce fares at the Navy Yard Metrorail station, which serves the Washington Nationals’ stadium.

The incident occurred at about 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, when the officer stopped someone who did not pay the fare.

The suspect, who has not been publicly named or described, turned around and attacked the officer with an unspecified sharp metal object, the transit police office said. The suspect was subsequently arrested by other officers nearby.

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy happened to be in the vicinity, intending to go to the Metro stop to talk about transit safety. Once informed about the incident, he met with the officer.

“The @USDOT security detail was able to give him first aid. He said he gets bitten, beaten, and attacked almost everyday. My thanks go out to him and all the brave officers of @MetroTransitPD. They put their lives on the line each and every day to keep us safe. Violence against them cannot be tolerated and we must do better,” Mr. Duffy wrote on X.

In addition to being helped by the security detail, the officer was also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority CEO and General Manager Randy Clarke responded to Mr. Duffy’s post on X.

“Thx for your concern. Our officer was enforcing fares. Pleased to report we spoke & he remains on duty and well. We are charging the suspect w/ Assault of LEO & ask he be prosecuted. I appreciate any assistance in further reducing our 7 yr low crime rate,” Mr. Clarke wrote.

Mr. Clarke and Mr. Duffy met on Wednesday to talk about the incident and transit safety more broadly.