An Alexandria man was arrested Sunday at Washington Dulles International Airport after officials say he punched a Customs officer in the face during an inspection.

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Customs and Border Protection officials say that 30-year-old David Gerald punched the officer after a narcotics dog alerted to his girlfriend after returning to the United States on a flight from Amsterdam.

According to CBP officials, officers were inspecting passengers in the airport's sterile area when a K9 apparently picked up a scent. Gerald then allegedly tried to stop the inspection, then hit the officer in the face. A marijuana pipe with drug residue was later found inside his luggage.

"Mr. Gerald is accused of escalating what started as a routine narcotics enforcement operation into a more serious offense by physically assaulting a federal law enforcement officer," Christopher Hess, the CBP Port Director at Dulles, said.