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Man Is Charged With Pulling a Subway Emergency Brake. Is He the Subway Saboteur? Man Is Charged With Pulling a Subway Emergency Brake. Is He the Subway Saboteur?
(about 3 hours later)
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The case of the mysterious disruptions in the New York City subway system, caused by someone pulling emergency brakes, may have been solved: a man was arrested on Friday and charged in one of the incidents. As officials scrambled to solve mysterious subway disruptions caused by someone pulling the emergency brakes, a New York City police supervisor spotted a familiar face in a surveillance photo.
The police are now looking into whether he committed dozens of other similar acts in recent months that have upended the lives of thousands of riders. He said he recognized the man in the photo as Isaiah Thompson, a 23-year-old Brooklyn man who had a history of causing disturbances on subway trains. Seven times, Mr. Thompson had been arrested and charged with riding the outside of trains.
Isaiah Thompson, 23, of Brooklyn, was arrested on charges of reckless endangerment and criminal trespassing. Mr. Thompson was accused of riding on the back of a subway train on the No. 2 line on Tuesday in Manhattan and of activating the train’s brakes, the police said. The connection made by the police supervisor led to the arrest on Friday of Mr. Thompson, who was charged with reckless endangerment and criminal trespassing. He was accused of riding on the back of a subway train on the No. 2 line on Tuesday in Manhattan and activating the train’s brakes, the police said.
Mr. Thompson may have also been responsible for another incident on May 16, which involved riding outside a B train and exposing himself to passengers on the platform, the police said. He was also charged with public lewdness for the second incident. He may have also been responsible for another incident on May 16, which involved riding outside a B train and exposing himself to passengers on the platform, the police said. In the second incident he was charged with public lewdness.
Subway officials have said they believed the brake-pulling incident on Tuesday might have been tied to a broader pattern of mayhem in recent months in which one person — or possibly a group of people — had pulled the brakes on trains dozens of times, delaying hundreds of trains and affecting thousands of riders. Interviewed by officers on Friday, Mr. Thompson admitted to having pulled subway emergency brakes in the past, but did not remember the specific incidents for which he was charged, the police said.
It was not immediately clear if the police believed Mr. Thompson was solely responsible for the dozens of brake pullings or were still searching for other culprits. “He has mentioned in the past that he enjoys this and enjoys the thrill,” said Inspector Brian McGee. “He likes to cause havoc.”
Two years ago, Mr. Thompson tried to jump onto the subway tracks and a police report at the time described him as emotionally disturbed.
Subway officials have said they believed the brake-pulling incident on Tuesday might have been tied to a broader pattern of mischief in recent months in which one person — or possibly a group of people — had pulled the brakes on trains dozens of times, delaying hundreds of trains and affecting thousands of riders.
The police said Friday that they had no other suspects, but it remained unclear how many brake-pulling incidents Mr. Thompson is suspected of committing.
On Thursday, Inspector McGee said officers were reviewing about 40 different acts of emergency brake engagements — most happening in April and May — to determine whether the brakes had been pulled for legitimate reasons or were the work of a scofflaw.
The public hunt for the subway brake puller began this week. After reports of cascading rush-hour delays on the 2 and 3 lines in Manhattan on Tuesday night, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said that it was the work of a repeat offender.The public hunt for the subway brake puller began this week. After reports of cascading rush-hour delays on the 2 and 3 lines in Manhattan on Tuesday night, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said that it was the work of a repeat offender.
There had been internal reports going back months noting that a man had gained access to the controller’s chair at the rear of a train and had pulled the emergency brake. The New York Police Department said the saboteur had pulled about 40 emergency brakes since February.There had been internal reports going back months noting that a man had gained access to the controller’s chair at the rear of a train and had pulled the emergency brake. The New York Police Department said the saboteur had pulled about 40 emergency brakes since February.
The subway’s leader, Andy Byford, called the behavior dangerous and the culprits “morons.” Officials initially feared that Mr. Thompson had obtained a key that allowed him to access controller cabins from the outside of trains. The police said Friday that he denied having a key.
The subway’s leader, Andy Byford, this week called the behavior “dangerous” and “selfish” and the culprits “morons.”
“It’s stupid,” Mr. Byford said this week. “It’s dangerous. It’s selfish. And it’s got to stop.” He also said he wanted to ban the culprit from the subway.“It’s stupid,” Mr. Byford said this week. “It’s dangerous. It’s selfish. And it’s got to stop.” He also said he wanted to ban the culprit from the subway.
On Friday, following Mr. Thompson’s arrest, Mr. Byford said that if he were ultimately convicted, “he should face a lengthy prison term and the strictest possible penalties,” serving as a warning to others.
“These incidents illustrate why the law needs to allow recidivists who repeatedly target subway customers or employees to be banned from the property,” he added.
Inspector McGee agreed: “Mr. Thompson is the perfect candidate for expulsion from the transit system.”
Subway officials said the culprit was endangering subway riders, track workers and himself. Riders on stalled trains could have a medical emergency, and subway tracks are notoriously dangerous because of the third rail, a steel column that carries 600 volts of electricity. After pulling a brake, the saboteur would flee onto the tracks.Subway officials said the culprit was endangering subway riders, track workers and himself. Riders on stalled trains could have a medical emergency, and subway tracks are notoriously dangerous because of the third rail, a steel column that carries 600 volts of electricity. After pulling a brake, the saboteur would flee onto the tracks.
Neighbors said Mr. Thompson lived with his mother and brother in the Fort Greene neighborhood in Brooklyn and had grown increasingly troubled in recent years. One neighbor, Sherman Nelson, said he often saw Mr. Thompson hopping the turnstile at the Clinton-Washington station in Brooklyn.
“His behavior, that young man, let you know that something is wrong with him,” Mr. Nelson said.
Nate Schweber contributed reporting.