Irate Straphangers Punch Conductor In Vicious Subway Attack Caught On Camera
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Police are looking for two out-of-control New York City subway riders they say punched a conductor in the face after he announced a train was going express.
It happened shortly after 4:30 a.m. Saturday at the Grant Avenue station in Brooklyn after the transport workers union says the train was ordered to run express after the stop in East New York.
"It made the next stop and that's when this happened," said TWU Local 100 Vice President Joe Costales said. "It was unprovoked by the conductor, the conductor was just doing his job."
An irate man and his girlfriend allegedly attacked the conductor. Bystander video released by the NYPD shows the man reaching through the window, then the conductor trying to push him away. As they grapple, a woman starts hurling punches through the window.
The 62-year-old conductor was too shaken to speak to CBS2 on camera.
"He's got a little bit of a black eye and some scratches," said Costales.
The union says it's just the latest in a string of assaults on its employees. Union employees on Monday handed out wanted posters of all the suspects police are now looking for in the various assaults, asking riders to call police with any new information.
"Enough's enough," said Costales. "We want them arrested."
The incidents highlight the need for surveillance cameras at every train station, according to the union. Costales says there were none at the Grant Avenue station.
The union has also called for other technology, like body cameras, attached to the safety glasses workers are required to wear. NYC Transit President Andy Byford says the MTA is discussing a potential pilot program for the body cameras with the union.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74682). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
