Man Who Took Knife Wound for Elderly Woman Honored

Subway Hero Honored by Political Group

At The Bronx Conservative Party’s monthly meeting are (Left to Right): Belmont resident Joe Padilla, subway hero Alfred Troche holding his proclamation with his friend Jorge Castelan. -Photo by David Greene

By David Greene

Bronx Voice

April 3, 2024

BRONX - Members of The Bronx Conservative Party recognized a Belmont man who came to the aid of an elderly woman being attacked at the Pelham Parkway Station on White Plains Road in the early morning hours last month.

During their monthly meeting at the Sanz, at 815 Allerton Avenue on March 22, members of The Bronx Conservative Party presented Alfred Troche, Jr., 53, with a special proclamation for his heroism.

During the award ceremony Patrick McManus, the party chairman said, “Rather than turning and walking away, Alfredo decided to step in between the perpetrators and the elderly lady and protect her. In doing so he was injured. One of the individuals sliced him with a boxcutter on the hand.”

McManus added, “We’d like to recognize his courage and heroism in stepping up.”

Conservative Party member and fellow Belmont resident Joe Padilla said of Troche, “At a time when law abiding citizens have become prey just carrying out their daily lives in a chaotic city, It is important to recognize and honor those who choose to put their safety in jeopardy in defense of another instead of recording.”

The man of the hour Troche, Jr., 53, or “Batman” as he likes to be called, arrived at the Sanz with his friend Jorge Castelan. Troche, a former U.S. Marine is Puerto Rican, French and Italian and is originally from Brooklyn.

Troche recalled the chain of events began with an emergency phone call that his dad was in a hospital in Bushwick, Brooklyn, suffering from complications from diabetes. Troche only returned home to care for his dog.

Getting off the Number 2 Train at the Pelham Parkway Station at about 1 a.m. Troche told the Bronx Voice, “Stepping out of the train I see an old lady screaming at the top of her lungs.” He added, “There were two of them and they were tugging on her purse.”

Troche recalled, “So I jumped up and I started punching and pounding. He started pulling her hair and I started elbowing him and the other guy came running and cut me with a boxcutter. And then I broke the boxcutter and elbowed him. I think I broke his nose.”

According to Troche, the assailants jumped into a white SUV and Troche attempted to follow the vehicle on foot, collapsing outside of the Pelham Parkway entrance to the Bronx Zoo where paramedics tended to his two wounds that required several stitches.

Police have not yet announced an arrest in the case.