Food item launched by protester reportedly shattered and caused mustard stain on customs official, trial told

A US immigration agent has testified he could sense through his protective gear the force of a food product thrown at him by a DC demonstrator, who has gone on trial for criminal charge.

Immigration and customs agent Gregory Lairmore testified to the court panel the sandwich "burst all over him" and he "could smell the vegetables and yellow sauce" on his uniform.

Neither side contests that the accused, 37, did in fact throw vulgar language and a prepared food item at officers assigned by President Donald Trump to patrol the nation's capital in the summer month.

The occurrence was captured on video and became popular online, making the defendant a figure of protest in the capital to Trump.

State lawyers at first tried to achieve serious criminal counts against Mr Dunn, but a judicial committee declined to indict him.

Trump's assignment of armed forces to the capital this summer generated anger from some of the city's residents, who viewed it as a political use of the military.

According to legal filings, Mr Dunn came near a law enforcement team at about 11 PM on August 10, calling them "authoritarians" and shouting: "Why are you present? Your presence is unwanted in my city!"

The legal proceeding witnessed a demonstration from the agent on the trial day as he took the stand against the defendant.

"I could feel it through my protective gear," he stated of the food's collision, adding that an onion string dangled from his communication device and mustard marked his clothing.

The defendant's attorney, the defense attorney, stated in her opening statement that launching the food item was a "non-threatening act that did not, could not, result in harm".

But government attorney the prosecutor argued Mr Dunn must be held accountable.

"No matter who you are, you should not throwing stuff at individuals because you're angry," the attorney said.

Following the alleged assault was revealed, the defendant was terminated from his employment as a paralegal in the federal legal agency.