Maryland Man Arrested for Assaulting Men at Gay DC Cruising Spot

A Maryland man is in custody for trolling a gay cruising spot at a park in Washington, D.C., impersonating a cop and harassing park goers who he believed were gay.

As reported by CNN, Michael Thomas Pruden, 48, was arrested Thursday for allegedly assaulting men over a three-year period at Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcolm X Park.

"The park is known in the community as a place where men meet seeking consensual sex with other men, the indictment said," CNN reports. "It alleges Pruden went there at night -- twice while pretending to be a United States Park Police officer -- and shined a flashlight in the men's faces."

According to the indictment, Pruden proceeded to give directives to a number of men and sprayed some with an irritant. The FBI arrested Pruden in Virginia Beach and he faces five counts of assault on federal land and two counts of impersonating a federal officer. The assaults allegedly occurred between April 30, 2018, and March 26, 2021.

"The indictment seeks a hate crimes sentencing enhancement because Pruden allegedly targeted four of the victims because of their perceived sexual orientation," CNN reports. If convicted, Pruden faces anywhere from 3 to 10 years for each assault count, according to a release from the Department of Justice.

Anyone who believes they might have been a victim or know a victim of Pruden's is being asked to contact the FBI.