- A man accused of targeting and attacking gay men in a DC park has been charged with
hate crimes . - Investigators say the man posed as a police officer and carried out his crimes over a three-year period.
The Justice Department has charged a man they believe targeted and attacked gay men at a DC park over a three-year period with hate crimes.
Federal investigators said that 48-year-old Michael Thomas Pruden visited the Meridian Hill Park, which is also known as the Malcolm X Park, after dark between 2018 and 2021, posing as a Park Police Officer, according to the indictment.
The park is informally known as a meeting place for men looking to have consensual sex with other men, according to the Justice Department.
Prosecutors allege in the indictment that Pruden approached men in the park pretending to be an officer, shouted "police-style" commands at them, and then sprayed them with a chemical irritant.
Pruden was arrested Thursday in Norfolk, Virginia, and charged with five counts of assault on federal land, one count of impersonating a federal officer, and a hate crimes sentencing enhancement alleging he assaulted four of the victims because of their perceived sexual orientation.
Pruden was a Maryland teacher
Pruden was first arrested by US Park Police last year and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.
At the time, NBC Washington reported that Pruden had worked for Prince George's County Public Schools since 2014. A school district spokesperson told NBC then that he was suspended.
Officials told the outlet that he was also linked to an assault on Daingerfield Island in Virginia, where he allegedly hit someone with a stick and pepper-sprayed them.
Insider left a message seeking comment with Prince George's County Public Schools and a former attorney identified as having represented Pruden.
Neither immediately responded.
Investigators are asking that people who may be a victim of, or witness, a similar assault in Meridian Hill Park, to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).