A National Guard member deployed to Washington as part of the federal crime task force has been arrested and accused of drawing a firearm on a fellow guardsman during an argument over hairstyle rules.
According to court documents, the two were sitting in a black van during a patrol break on 25 August, arguing about whether a hairstyle complied with Army grooming regulations.
Several other guardsmen were in the vehicle.
The filings state that Zion Mitchell told the other guardsman, “I would slap the Jackson 5 out of you,” and that she told him to shut up.
Another witness is quoted saying, “Put that up. You almost shot me in the hand.”
Mitchell gave detectives a different account, saying he “pulled a pistol magazine out of his vest pocket and pointed it at her as part of the playful banter,” according to court records.
Mitchell was ordered held because of the nature of the charges.
No plea was entered at a preliminary hearing, and the next is set for 15 September. Mitchell’s lawyer and the National Guard did not respond to requests for comment.
The case comes as thousands of Guard members remain in the city under a deployment that has drawn legal challenges.
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