Photo by voteprime.

A car crashed into a business and Washington Gas meter on the 1100 block of H Street NE late last night, causing the latter to erupt.

As video from the scene shows, the incident included an arrest and quite a bit of chaos. According to a police report, an officer in a marked Metropolitan Police Department car came upon a black Dodge Magnum parked in the bus zone around 11:15 p.m. A man, later identified as Ronald Samuel Branham of Northeast D.C., approached the officer and asked if he needed to move the car. Branham was informed he was receiving a citation and was asked to provide his license. He instead handed over a D.C. medical card.

The officer then determined Branham had an outstanding warrant from the D.C. Superior Court Family Division Paternity Support, issued in September. Branham was asked to wait at his car while the officer requested other units. From the police report: “Once Branham observed another unit coming he jumped into the listed vehicle and attempted to flee the scene. Branham drove in reverse and struck a vehicle that was parked behind him.”

Branham then drove forward onto the sidewalk and struck Newsom, a Washington Gas meter and the Daily Rider next door causing “extensive damages to the front of the building,” a police report says. The Daily Rider, however, said on Twitter damage to its front door was caused by D.C. Fire and EMS when they vented for gas.

According to the police report, Branham exited his now stuck vehicle through the passenger door. He then threw his coat to the ground and shouted, “I’m tired of this shit.” The officer adivsed Branham to turn around so he could be handcuffed, but he refused and was physically restrained. After being pinned to the side of a building, Branham allegedly attempted to strike another officer but an unknown citizen blocked him. Other citizens assisted in the effort to handcuff Branham.

Video of the incident shows Branham on the ground in handcuffs while officers tell people gathered to “back up.”

Branham was transported to a police station to be processed without further incident. A police report lists his offenses as felony destruction of property, fleeing from the scene of an accident, reckless driving and fleeing a law enforcement officer.

The person who shot video of the arrest says roads from 10th to 13th and G and I Streets NE were closed to foot and vehicle traffic until between 1 and 1:30 a.m. A D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson said units arrived to the scene around 11:34 p.m. Washington Gas was called and no injuries were reported.

A call to Washington Gas has yet to be returned.

Filed Under: h street NE, metropolitan police department, police report,