Metro rider beaten, robbed on Red Line train

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/metro-rider-was-beaten-and-robbed-on-red-line-train/2017/04/17/e0ebe05a-23cd-11e7-b503-9d616bd5a305_story.html

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A Metro passenger was robbed and beaten Sunday afternoon on a Red Line train in Montgomery County, authorities said.

The incident occurred about 5:40 p.m. as the northbound train approached the Wheaton station, according to a Metro spokesman. Four people approached the seated victim, and one sat next to him.

“I need you to give me the password for that phone and look the other way, otherwise it will not end well for you,” the man was told, according to a Metro account.

When the man held onto the phone, the people began punching him in the face and head.

During the attack, one of the people said,“Give me that damn phone!” according to the Metro account.

As he tried to stave off the blows, the man felt the robbers’ hands in his pockets, Metro said. Ultimately, the robbers got credit and debit cards, but the man kept his phone.

When the doors opened at Wheaton, the robbers ran off the train and left the station.

The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.

From surveillance video it appeared that there were at least three or four other passengers in the car, who were seated about half a car length away, and did not notice the attack.