The family of a former Fort Lewis College student with autism is accusing a policy advisor to President Barack Obama of assaulting him last year on a school fieldtrip to Washington, D.C. But the senior political appointee says it is the student who was the aggressor.
Former Fort Lewis College student Barrett Dahl has undergone three surgeries and has seven screws and two plates in his wrist, according to his father, Mike Dahl. The injury occurred Oct. 30, 2015, during an altercation with William Mendoza, executive director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education. Courtesy of Barrett Dahl
Former Fort Lewis College student Barrett Dahl said he suffered this black eye after a fight with William Mendoza, executive director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education. Courtesy of Barrett Dahl
Former Fort Lewis College student Barrett Dahl poses with his Washington Redskins memorabilia at his home in Oklahoma. Dahl was involved in a physical altercation with William Mendoza, a political appointee within the U.S. Department of Education, on Oct. 30, 2015, at a powwow in Washington, D.C. Mendoza approached Dahl about his Redskins shirt, saying it is offensive to Native Americans. Courtesy of Barrett Dahl
William Mendoza, executive director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, had two black eyes after fighting with Barrett Dahl, a former Fort Lewis College student, who wore a Redskins jersey to a powwow in Washington, D.C. Courtesy of William Mendoza
Barrett Dahl recovers after surgery on his right arm, which was injured during an altercation Oct. 30, 2015, in Washington, D.C., with William Mendoza, executive director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education. Courtesy of Barrett Dahl
Former Fort Lewis College student Barrett Dahl said he took this “selfie” on Oct. 30, 2015, about 30 minutes before he was attacked by William Mendoza, executive director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, at a conference in Washington, D.C. Mendoza, who has been outspoken against the use of Native American mascots, including the Washington Redskins, approached Dahl about his jersey at a powwow. The two men got into a fight soon after. Courtesy of Barrett Dahl
Former Fort Lewis College student Barrett Dahl said he had a bruised chest after a fight with William Mendoza, executive director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education. Courtesy of Barrett Dahl
Barrett Dahl suffered fractures to his right forearm during a fight at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center near Washington, D.C. He has undergone three surgeries and has seven screws and two plates in his wrist, said his father, Mike Dahl. Courtesy of Barrett Dahl
An Oklahoma drivers license says Barrett Dahl weighs 130 pounds and has green eyes. A Prince George’s County Police report says he weighs 215 pounds and has brown eyes. His father, Mike Dahl, said the police wanted to make Barrett Dahl and his attacker, William Mendoza, appear similar in size. Courtesy of Barrett Dahl
An X-ray taken of Barrett Dahl’s wrist after being involved in a fight Oct. 30, 2015, with William Mendoza, executive director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, at a conference in Washington, D.C. Courtesy of Barrett Dahl
