BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A Baltimore man pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal law enforcement officer during a confrontation tied to his Social Security disability benefits, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Demetris White, 44, admitted in federal court to assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer after an incident that began at the Baltimore Social Security Administration (SSA) field office on May 19, 2025.
Officials say White went to the SSA office to ask about his benefit payments after losing his Direct Express Debit Mastercard, which he used to access his funds. When a customer service representative explained the process to get a new card, White became upset and started berating the employee, who pressed a duress button to alert security.
Security officers told White to leave the building, but he continued to berate and threaten them before eventually going outside. Because of those threats, a federal law enforcement officer responded to the scene and tried to arrest White.
Officials say White resisted the arrest, leading the law enforcement officer to point a taser at him and warn he could be tased if he did not cooperate. White then allowed the officer to handcuff him, but immediately after being cuffed, he backward headbutted the officer, causing a laceration to the officer’s lip and resulting in bleeding and swelling.
White now faces up to eight years in federal prison.
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