WASHINGTON D.C. – A Maryland man with a penchant for violence and pilfering police equipment has been convicted of attacking two Metropolitan Police Department officers during a December 2020 demonstration in downtown Washington. Michael Patschak, 31, of Frederick, Maryland, faces a reckoning after a jury found him guilty on all counts.
The chaos unfolded at 16th and I Streets NW on December 12, 2020, as officers attempted to quell unrest and make arrests of protesters actively assaulting both law enforcement and other demonstrators. Patschak, decked out in a black military-style helmet, ski goggles, and a camera-mounted backpack, inserted himself directly into the fray. Witnesses testified he shoved an officer already engaged in an arrest, sparking a violent confrontation.
The situation escalated quickly. Patschak didn’t just brawl – he ripped the Body-Worn Camera (BWC) directly from the officer’s chest during the fight. The camera clattered to the ground, but Patschak wasn’t finished. He swiftly snatched it up and stuffed it into his backpack, effectively stealing evidence. The brazen act didn’t go unnoticed, and the incident was captured by other officers on scene.
Minutes later, Patschak doubled down on his antagonism, approaching a retreating police line and taunting officers with a raised middle finger before drenching them with water. When an MPD officer moved to arrest him, Patschak responded with a flurry of punches to the head. It took multiple officers to finally subdue and detain him. A subsequent search of his backpack revealed the stolen, still-recording BWC.
On November 10, 2022, a D.C. Superior Court jury delivered a guilty verdict on all charges in the indictment: two counts of assaulting a police officer and one count of robbery. Patschak now awaits sentencing on January 20, 2023, before the Honorable Jason Park. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua L. Hall and Alec Levy, secured the conviction.
The Metropolitan Police Department spearheaded the investigation, with crucial support from the U.S. Secret Service. While the Secret Service’s involvement wasn’t detailed, their assistance underscores the seriousness of the incident given its location and potential to escalate. This conviction sends a clear message: assaulting law enforcement and stealing government property won’t be tolerated, even amidst the disorder of a protest.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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