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| He Was Obsessed With Subways. Is He the Emergency Brake Saboteur? | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] | [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] |
| Isaiah Thompson was fixated on New York City subway trains. For years, he had surfed on them, jumped on the tracks and hung off the back of cars zooming through transit tunnels. | Isaiah Thompson was fixated on New York City subway trains. For years, he had surfed on them, jumped on the tracks and hung off the back of cars zooming through transit tunnels. |
| But that fascination may prove his undoing. A police supervisor recognized Mr. Thompson’s face in surveillance photos released as officials scrambled to solve mysterious subway disruptions caused by someone pulling emergency brakes. | But that fascination may prove his undoing. A police supervisor recognized Mr. Thompson’s face in surveillance photos released as officials scrambled to solve mysterious subway disruptions caused by someone pulling emergency brakes. |
| On Friday, Mr. Thompson, 23, of Brooklyn, was arrested and accused of pulling the emergency brake on a Manhattan No. 2 train this Tuesday. It might have been part of the wider pattern of similar incidents in March and April that delayed hundreds of trains and frustrated thousands of commuters. | On Friday, Mr. Thompson, 23, of Brooklyn, was arrested and accused of pulling the emergency brake on a Manhattan No. 2 train this Tuesday. It might have been part of the wider pattern of similar incidents in March and April that delayed hundreds of trains and frustrated thousands of commuters. |
| By Friday afternoon, police records and neighbors’ accounts portrayed a troubled young man who in recent years appeared to gravitate toward peculiar and reckless behavior. | By Friday afternoon, police records and neighbors’ accounts portrayed a troubled young man who in recent years appeared to gravitate toward peculiar and reckless behavior. |
| Mr. Thompson had earned his transit notoriety, according to the police. Including Friday’s arrest, he had been arrested in 17 separate incidents, 16 of which involved the transit system. Seven involved riding on the backs of train cars, one police official said. | Mr. Thompson had earned his transit notoriety, according to the police. Including Friday’s arrest, he had been arrested in 17 separate incidents, 16 of which involved the transit system. Seven involved riding on the backs of train cars, one police official said. |
| “He has mentioned in the past that he enjoys this and enjoys the thrill,” said Inspector Brian McGee, the commanding officer of the robbery division that handled the case. “He likes to cause havoc. | “He has mentioned in the past that he enjoys this and enjoys the thrill,” said Inspector Brian McGee, the commanding officer of the robbery division that handled the case. “He likes to cause havoc. |
| In a separate incident in 2017, Mr. Thompson was caught by the police trying to jump onto the subway tracks. A police report described him as emotionally disturbed. | In a separate incident in 2017, Mr. Thompson was caught by the police trying to jump onto the subway tracks. A police report described him as emotionally disturbed. |
| Though Mr. Thompson has only been charged in one brake-related incident, the police are trying to determine whether he was responsible for dozens of other emergency brake delays. | Though Mr. Thompson has only been charged in one brake-related incident, the police are trying to determine whether he was responsible for dozens of other emergency brake delays. |
| On Friday, he was charged with reckless endangerment and criminal trespassing, in addition to a charge of public lewdness in a separate incident in which the police say he rode on the back of a train and exposed himself to passengers on the platform. | On Friday, he was charged with reckless endangerment and criminal trespassing, in addition to a charge of public lewdness in a separate incident in which the police say he rode on the back of a train and exposed himself to passengers on the platform. |
| Neighbors in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, said Mr. Thompson was a bright but troubled young man whose behavior in recent months had grown odd. | Neighbors in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, said Mr. Thompson was a bright but troubled young man whose behavior in recent months had grown odd. |
| “His behavior, that young man, let you know that something is wrong with him,” said Sherman Nelson, 72, Mr. Thompson’s neighbor in Brooklyn. He had often seen Mr. Thompson hopping subway turnstiles at a station in Brooklyn. | “His behavior, that young man, let you know that something is wrong with him,” said Sherman Nelson, 72, Mr. Thompson’s neighbor in Brooklyn. He had often seen Mr. Thompson hopping subway turnstiles at a station in Brooklyn. |
| Mr. Thompson lived with his mother and brother, Mr. Nelson said. When he was younger neighbors said they saw him boarding a bus for children with learning disabilities. | Mr. Thompson lived with his mother and brother, Mr. Nelson said. When he was younger neighbors said they saw him boarding a bus for children with learning disabilities. |
| Then, Mr. Nelson said, the young man’s behavior started to change. | Then, Mr. Nelson said, the young man’s behavior started to change. |
| John Thompson, a relative, also said Isaiah Thompson’s behavior had changed “out of the blue.” | John Thompson, a relative, also said Isaiah Thompson’s behavior had changed “out of the blue.” |
| “He’s troubled and he needs some help,” said John Thompson. “He’s a good kid, he’s just troubled.” | “He’s troubled and he needs some help,” said John Thompson. “He’s a good kid, he’s just troubled.” |
| The public hunt for the subway brake puller began earlier this week, when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority brought a pattern of emergency brake incidents to the police department. After reports of cascading rush-hour delays on the 2 and 3 lines in Manhattan on Tuesday night, the M.T.A. believed it was the work of a repeat offender. | The public hunt for the subway brake puller began earlier this week, when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority brought a pattern of emergency brake incidents to the police department. After reports of cascading rush-hour delays on the 2 and 3 lines in Manhattan on Tuesday night, the M.T.A. believed 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. Officials initially feared that the culprit had obtained a key that allowed him to access controller cabins from the outside of trains. | 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. Officials initially feared that the culprit had obtained a key that allowed him to access controller cabins from the outside of trains. |
| Confronted by officers early Friday, Mr. Thompson admitted that he had previously pulled subway emergency brakes, the police said. He did not remember the two specific incidents in which he was charged, and denied having a key to train compartments. | Confronted by officers early Friday, Mr. Thompson admitted that he had previously pulled subway emergency brakes, the police said. He did not remember the two specific incidents in which he was charged, and denied having a key to train compartments. |
| Subway officials said brake-pulling 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 brake-pulling 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. |
| The subway’s leader, Andy Byford, earlier this week called the behavior “dangerous” and “selfish” and said the culprits were “morons.” | The subway’s leader, Andy Byford, earlier this week called the behavior “dangerous” and “selfish” and said the culprits were “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 perpetrator 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 perpetrator 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” to serve as a warning to others. | 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” to serve 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. | “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.” | Inspector McGee agreed: “Mr. Thompson is the perfect candidate for expulsion from the transit system.” |
| Nate Schweber contributed reporting. Susan Beachy contributed research. | Nate Schweber contributed reporting. Susan Beachy contributed research. |