Arlington County officials withdrew their police officers from riot duty in the nation's capital Monday evening, claiming the mutual aid agreement the cops were deployed under was "abused" "for a photo op," according to CBS News.
The report did not state how many officers were involved. However, it said the detachment was ordered to return around 8:30 p.m. ET "at the direction" of the county manager, county board, and police chief.
"The county is re-evaluating the agreements that allowed our officers to be put in a compromising position that endangered their health and safety, and that of the people around them, for a purpose not worthy of our mutual aid obligations," the county said.
Arlington County and the U.S. Park Police have a mutual aid agreement in which they assist each other for major events.
The orders to return came after Arlington County police were involved in helping clear Lafayette Square across from the White House with tear gas and flash-bang grenades, CBS reported.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement the perimeter around the executive mansion "was expanded to help enforce the 7 p.m. curfew in the same area where rioters attempted to burn down one of our nation's most historic churches the night before." He said U.S. Park Police warned protesters to clear the area three times.
President Donald Trump and several Cabinet members flanked by Secret Service walked through the square to St. John's Episcopal Church on the other side. The church was damaged by fire Sunday night when it was set on fire by rioters.
County Board member Libby Garvey, a Democrat, tweeted the reason for the removal of Arlington's officers:
"We ordered @ArlingtonVaPD to immediately leave DC. Appalled mutual aid agreement abused to endanger their and others safety for a photo op."
The incident was the latest in the riotous aftermath in several cities following the death of a Minneapolis man in police custody on Memorial Day. The man was seen in a widely distributed video being restrained face down by a police officer, who has his knee to the suspect's neck. The man later died.
Four officers involved were terminated the day following the incident and the officer seen in the video has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.