2 MTA workers assaulted at NYC subway station: police
THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Two MTA workers are recovering after an assault at a subway station in the Bronx Tuesday morning. Police are looking for a suspect who hit them with a small scooter.
The incident happened at the Eastchester–Dyre Avenue station, authorities said.
As service ended at the end of the line, police said the conductor woke up a man who was sleeping, and the passenger spat on the conductor and then hit him in the face with the scooter. Another MTA worker intervened and was also hit.
The suspect is described as an 18-20-year-old male, and he ran down the steps at the station.
Transport Workers Union Local President John Chiarello gathered with union leaders Tuesday at headquarters in Brooklyn to discuss worker safety and the number of assaults.
"They go to work every day with the fear of being beat up. We have homeless and mentally challenged people not being dealt with. We need a surge on buses and trains," Chiarello said.
The transit workers injured on Tuesday morning are recovering.
Donald Yates has 30 years with transit, and he’s the TWU vice president for buses.
"This is something happening on a daily basis. We are screaming from the rooftops," Yates said.
The MTA and the NYPD have surged police officers and mental health teams into the system. MTA officials are also asking more of the court system when prosecuting suspects and repeat offenders.
“It is completely unacceptable for someone to not only disrespect a transit worker but to do it so violently that they injure two members of a train crew simply trying to remove subway cars from service at the end of the line. When this lunatic is caught, and the NYPD – using video from that train – will find him, there needs to be maximum, real consequences,” said NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow.
Law enforcement has been monitoring an increase in assaults. Overall, subway crime has been decreasing.