Fifth Defendant Charged in March 11 Assault on Metropolitan Police Department Officers

            WASHINGTON – Ronald Butler, 44, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged today in D.C. Superior Court in relation to a March 11, 2025, assault on a group of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers in Southeast D.C. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Ronald Butler is charged with felony assault on a police officer. Butler turned himself into police custody this morning. Butler is the fifth defendant to be charged in relation to this matter. Previously charged are:

• Donte Butler, Sr., 47, of Washington, D.C., was charged with felony assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.
• Donte Butler, Jr., 21, of Washington, D.C., was charged with misdemeanor assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.
• Frederick Simms, 39, of Washington, D.C., was charged with misdemeanor assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.
• Jermaine Irving, 21, of Washington, D.C., was charged with resisting arrest and consumption of marijuana in public.

            According to court documents, on March 11, at approximately 3:59 p.m., the MPD Seventh District’s Special Missions Unit made contact with a defendant allegedly consuming marijuana in public space in the 2600 block of Birney Place, Southeast. During that encounter, it is alleged that some of the defendants then assaulted the MPD officers.

            These charges are announced as part of Make D.C. Safe Again, a comprehensive public safety initiative designed to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia.

            The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke Albi is prosecuting this case.

            These charges are merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.