NYPD: Here's The Guy Who Pulled The 2 Train's Emergency Brake On Tuesday
May 23, 2019, 10 a.m.
Video shows the suspect subway surfing on a 2 train.
The NYPD has released images of the dastardly creep they believe "intentionally disrupted thousands of commutes" by pulling a subway emergency brake earlier this week for no apparent reason.
On Tuesday, May 21st, at the 14th Street 1/2/3 station in Manhattan around 5:43 p.m., investigators say that the suspect "entered the northbound #2 train, gained access to the rear train car, opened the rear door and rode several stops on the outside of the car after which he activated the emergency brake."
No one was injured, but commuters—and the MTA—were furious.
We suspect someone has intentionally disrupted thousands of commutes on the 2/3 lines today by activating multiple trains’ emergency brakes. If you see any suspicious behavior, please @ or DM us details ASAP, including car #, so we can get trains back on schedule.
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) May 21, 2019
The NYPD describes the suspect as 20-30 years old and about 5'9" with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black New York Yankees cap, a black Nike t-shirt with the words "SWAG DON'T COME CHEAP" on the front, baggy khaki pants and white and black sneakers. The police also released video footage of the suspect subway surfing on the train, as well as a clearer image of the T-shirt:
(NYPD)
On Wednesday, Jalopnik reported that someone has been repeatedly pulling emergency brakes, with an MTA source calling the person "a nutcase who is addicted to fucking with the trains." Here's his M.O., according to Jalopnik: "The suspect disrupts service primarily on the 2 and 5 lines from Flatbush Avenue in central Brooklyn to midtown Manhattan. He climbs aboard the rear of the train as it departs a station, unlocks the safety chains, somehow gets into the rear cab, and triggers the emergency brakes. Then, he disappears, most likely through the subway tunnels and out an emergency exit. Despite striking on average once a week for several months, the person has not been caught."
It's believed the same person is responsible for at least 740 delayed trains since March. Police say he was almost caught on Sunday.
Anyone with information in regard 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 (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
