Off-Duty Officer Assaulted in Southeast DC While Riding Scooter

The suspects didn't stop the assault when their victim showed his police badge, police say

Police are looking for three men who assaulted a federal officer during an attempt to carjack a scooter.

David Lesansky was riding his motor scooter near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Potomac Avenue SE around noon Friday when the three suspects approached. Lesansky was off-duty.

"I came to a stop at the stop light," Lesansky told News4 while recovering on his couch.

Then, the brutal assault began.

"They punched me multiple times. Likely kicked me," Lesansky said.

The perpetrators continued the beating even after Lesansky identified himself as an officer, police say.

But Lesansky didn't give up his scooter easily.

"They pushed me over. I fell down. The scooter went down," he said. "I took my helmet off and began struggling with them."

Eventually, the assailants gave up. They were caught on surveillance camera as they ran away.

Lesansky's scooter wasn't stolen, but he was left with bruises and internal injuries to his ribs, abdomen and back.

"The pain is very intense," he said.

Police are released a photo of the three suspects and are also offering a $1,000 reward for information.

"If they do this with no consequences with no punishment for the fact that they've attempted to steal, assaulted, injured people, they're going to continue to do this," Lesansky said.

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