Latest news with #farebeating
CBS News
01-07-2025
- CBS News
Brooklyn MTA station agent says 2 female fare evaders beat her up
A Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker says she was assaulted on the job in Brooklyn over the weekend while trying to help an elderly man who was having trouble in transit. The woman said she fears for her health and safety, especially with the suspects still on the run. "They're fare beaters. They wanted a ride" Marshalee Reid said the attack left her badly bruised and bleeding, "I was attacked by two girls while I was on the job. They jumped me. They assaulted me," Reid said. "They're fare beaters. They wanted a ride." Reid, a 51-year-old station agent, was working at the New Lots Avenue station in East New York on Saturday afternoon, when she says she was assisting an elderly man with an oxygen tank through a door. She says as she was helping him, a woman jumped the turnstile, and then another woman asked to go through the door, to which Reid responded that she had to pay the fare. "Just because I said that, that's all, they started to fight me," Reid said. "The girl was punching me in the face with keys that she had. She also had a pocket knife." NYC Transit boss calls attack "outrageous" Police are looking for two suspects. Union leaders say the two had a child with them at the time of the assault. In a statement, NYC Transit President Crichlow called the attack "outrageous." "[It's] another example of how fare evaders are often the perpetrators of assaults," Crichlow said, adding, "When the NYPD catches the suspects, which they will, we will be at the courthouse to insist that maximum justice is delivered for our colleague." "I want you to catch these girls," Reid said. "There's consequences for their crimes." Until then, Reid says she fears taking the train, or returning to work. And after just having brain surgery last year, she's focusing on her recovery, both physically and emotionally. TWU implores NYC to put more police underground The Transport Workers Union sounded off about safety in the subway system. "At the time of this assault, there was no police anywhere to be found -- mezzanine, platform, nowhere in sight," TWU Local 100 Vice President of Stations Robert Kelley said. "We have station agents, train operators, conductors, cleaners, every day getting assaulted either verbally or physically. I call on the mayor again to surge the police into these areas," TWU Local 100 President John Chiarello said. "We feel as many police officers as possible, we want in the system. That's why were bringing on 4,000 new officers, increasing the numbers," Mayor Eric Adams said. Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on X, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NYC subway security guard caught holding emergency gate open for fare beaters canned
A private security guard hired by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and snapped by The Post holding the emergency gate open for farebeaters is out of a job. Romuald Zampou said he was let go by MTA-contracted Allied Universal Security Services Monday — a day after The Post outed him for lending scofflaws a hand. 'They said they'd call me in the future if they had any work for me,' said Zampou, 52, who insisted his hands were tied. 'We can't stop them, we are not the police,' he said. 'There were too many problems at that gate. Every day, people would talk s–t to me.' Zampou was spotted by The Post on two separate occasions inside the Herald Square station holding the emergency doors open for a stream of scofflaws. Private guards have been stationed throughout the subway system as part of the MTA's contract with Allied, the world's largest private security service provider. Their chief responsibility is to serve as deterrents to would-be turnstile hoppers. A spokesperson for the MTA inspector general said their office was 'aware of the New York Post article and are of course concerned by the allegations' in it. 'Vendors who contract with the MTA are expected to fully comply with the terms of those agreements,' the spokesperson added. The Post went back underground this week, where patrolling NYPD officers were spotted cracking down on suspected farebeaters, busting at least two on Wednesday at the Herald Square station. The MTA has struggled to collect billions in fares, and has authorized rescue programs — such as fare hikes and congestion pricing — to balance its books. The guards have helped reduce fare evasion, said MTA spokesman Tim Minton. 'Fare evasion has been reduced 30% overall and 36% when guards are present, as the MTA uses multiple enforcement and education tools to fight it,' according to Minton. Allied, confirmed that Zampou has been removed from his post, pending its own investigation. 'We are in constant pursuit of ways to best serve our clients and meet their unique needs,' the company said.
