Teenager Released without Bail After Wildly Punching Cop who Confronted him

By Yehudit Garmaise

A 16-year-old turnstile jumper, who verbally and physically attacked an NYPD officer in an East Harlem subway station at 6:30 pm on July 23, has already been released without bail after appearing in court on Sunday.

Many New York officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, have pled with NY legislators to require judges to consider the dangers perpetrators pose to society before deciding whether to post bail.

The violent teen, who has had two recent prior arrests, including one case in which he was arrested with several others in possession of a loaded 40-caliber gun and a crossbow, was released on his own recognizance and is back on the streets.

“If New Yorkers want to know why the chaos in the transit system is not improving more quickly: this is why,” Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association union, told the New York Post.

“The criminals underground know they can get in a brawl, choke a cop, and be back out in hours,” Lynch fumed. “Cops are putting themselves on the line to make the subways safer, but we are feeling abandoned by a justice system that won’t back us up.”

The cop had confronted the turnstile jumper for not paying his fare, when the teen began to hurl insults at the policeman in a rant that lasted three minutes.

When the officer started to arrest the teen, he responded by wildly punching the police officer, who returned the punches to the teen.

With the violent teen was a 16-year-old girl who threw a couple of punches herself at the male officer, before a female cop pulled away the girl who took a few swings at her, as well. 

After brawling for several minutes, the officer restrained the teen down on the floor of the subway station, where the boy was arrested and charged with assault on a police officer, obstruction of governmental administration, and resisting arrest, cops said. 

The teenage girl was arrested on the same charges, although the outcome of her arraignment was not immediately known.

The male officer suffered from swelling to his head and his shoulder, the NYPD said after the officers who were attacked were treated and released from NYU Langone Hospital.

The day after the attack, NYPD transit chief Jason Wilcox told MTA board members assaults on his officers, many of whom were attempting to enforce quality-of-life infractions, have skyrocketed by 55% this year.

"I don't understand how the law would permit that guy to be released-when he has two priors that he's already out on the street for-to have him immediately released for that attack on a police officer,” MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said. I don't get it. I know our riders don't get it."