Maryland man suspected of posing as a cop, pepper spraying victims in DC arrested in Virginia By FOX 5 Digital Team Published Suspect dressing as a cop and then pepper spraying victims before assaulting them, police say Residents in a D.C. neighborhood are asking for more security after a series of attacks in which a suspect dressed as a cop pepper sprayed his victims. WASHINGTON - A Maryland man suspected of posing as a police officer and pepper spraying victims before assaulting them in Meridian Park in NorthwestD.C. has been arrested after an attack in Virginia. Park Police say 47-year-old Michael Thomas Pruden of Fort Washington is in custody after he confronted two victims at Daingerfield Island outside Alexandria.