US marshals arrest man for allegedly ramming ATV into DC officer

U.S. marshals have arrested a man for allegedly ramming an ATV into an officer with Washington, D.C., police department earlier this year.

Gerard Stokes, 30, was arrested in Greenbelt, Md., on Saturday, the U.S. Marshals Service announced Sunday. He was wanted by the Metropolitan Police Department for one count of felony assault of a police officer that occurred in March.

On March 15, MPD officers attempted to contact a group of individuals who were operating ATVs and dirt bikes near a gas station, with those on the ATVs parked next to the gas pumps. Officers approached the individuals, and one of them, who was later identified as Stokes, allegedly accelerated his ATV, raised the front tires in the air, and aimed it toward the officers.

While one officer was able to move out of the way, the other officer was struck head-on by the ATV and dragged approximately 15 feet across the gas station. Stokes allegedly fled the scene without stopping.

The injured officer was taken to a D.C. hospital. The officer is still recovering, and has not returned to full duty.

MPD detectives served a search warrant in July at Stokes' listed home address in Greenbelt. MPD was assisted by the Greenbelt Police Department during the search, and recovered rifles, shotguns, and pistols, and found 720 rounds of 5.56 ammunition.

Stokes has a criminal history of robbery, aggravated assault, and carrying a pistol without a license with a large capacity magazine.

U.S. Marshals arrested Stokes without incident early Saturday morning in Greenbelt.

“This apprehension during this public safety surge proves that we are making a difference by getting ruthless and dangerous criminals off the street,” U.S. Marshal Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta said.

“By increasing the number of law enforcement professionals we are able to carry out the orders of the President and make DC safe and beautiful again. The cooperative effort during this crime emergency proves that criminals have no safe place here in our nations [sic] Capital. We are a unified force intent on making our Capital the best in the world.”

On Saturday, the Greenbelt Police Department posted on X, "Early this morning, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force executed a warrant at a home in the 100 block of Ridge Rd. This warrant was connected to a case from Washington, D.C., involving the D.C. Police. No officers from Greenbelt were present during the execution of the warrant."

President Trump deployed National Guard troops to D.C. on August 11 to assist local law enforcement in fighting crime. They are joined by federal officers, including from the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Sunday that more than 300 arrests have been made since the federal effort began last week.