‘Bag Man’ Punches Straphanger in Unprovoked Subway Attack

Police are searching for this man in connection with an unprovoked attack on a subway rider in the Bronx.

By Dan Gesslein 

Bronx Voice 

October 31, 2022 

BRONX - Another day, another unprovoked attack on the subway. A straphanger is recovering after being punched in the head in the latest attack in the Bronx. 

The NYPD released surveillance video of a suspect seen running out of the subway station carrying a plastic bag full of items. 

At around 2 pm on October 28, a 39-year-old man was riding the northbound Number 5 train. As the train approached the East Tremont - West Farms station, an unknown man decked out in sunglasses and baseball cap began arguing with him. He grabbed the straphanger’s cell phone out of the man’s hands. 

The attacker then threw the cell phone back at the straphanger and then began punching the man about the head. When the train doors opened the attacker sprinted out of the subway car, down the platform and out to street below. 

The victim was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital where he is listed in stable condition. This is just the latest incident of subway violence and the second in two weeks in which a subway rider was beaten for no reason.

At around 1:20 on October 13, an 18-year-old man was exiting the northbound Number 6 train at East 138 Street and Alexander Avenue station. As the rider walked across the platform he was followed by a man from the train. The man walked behind the straphanger and punched in the back of the head, knocking him to the ground. Police released surveillance video of that suspect in the unrelated attack. The man had ducked under the turnstile prior to the attack. 

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 https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. 

All calls are strictly confidential.