MTA operator stabbed in Brooklyn subway by transit recidivist

An MTA subway operator is “preventing for his life” after he was stabbed a number of occasions Tuesday morning in Brooklyn by a transit recidivist, union officers stated.

Myran Pollack, 60, who’s set to retire quickly, was knifed within the abdomen and leg throughout a dispute with a person who refused to depart the practice on the final cease, Crown Heights-Utica Avenue, simply earlier than 11 a.m., in accordance with police. 

The 31-year MTA veteran was making an attempt to scrub the rail automotive when he obtained into an argument with the passenger, who then adopted Pollack onto the 4 practice southbound platform and stabbed him twice, police stated.

MTA Safety Chief Michael Kemper stated that officers already within the station intervened whereas the 27-year-old assailant was nonetheless on prime of Pollack.

Cops arrested the practice operator’s alleged attacker, Jonathan Davalos, and charged him with tried homicide, assault and menacing.

In keeping with Kemper, Davalos has an in depth prison historical past.

He was beforehand convicted of assaulting an MTA operator and slashing a buyer, for which he was launched from jail in February, MTA officers stated, including that Davalos makes use of the transit system “for evil.”

“We obtained to discover a technique to get individuals like this perpetrator out of the general public area, out of the subways, so that they don’t assault individuals many times,” MTA CEO Janno Lieber stated on Tuesday.

“Crime is down however recidivism has a disproportionate affect on New Yorkers.”

Richard Davis, president of TWU Native 100, stated the sufferer — who deliberate handy in his retirement papers quickly — is “preventing for his life” after being taken to Kings County Hospital.

“This has to cease. The insurance policies, the lawmakers have to alter. The transit insurance policies have to alter,” Davis stated. 

“Our members come to work each single day to come back to work with out blood on their palms, blood on their shirt, blood on their our bodies, and so they go residence like that. It’s not appropriate. It’s not proper. The politicians, the Transit Authority, the judges can’t proceed to let these individuals out of jail. It’s a steady cycle,” he stated. 

Tuesday’s underground violence occurred because the NYPD announced an 8.7% lower in transit crime in September. 

Whereas officers famous progress has been made — citing that transit crime has dipped 12% from the place it was earlier than COVID — they stated there may be nonetheless a lot of crimes happening by repeat offenders.

“We attraction to the prison justice system to handle this problem,” Lieber stated. 

“Now we have to discover a method for the prison justice system to have the ability to defend New Yorkers, particularly transit riders, in opposition to individuals who wish to do hurt to them many times.”

Pollack stays in crucial situation after present process surgical procedure, officers stated.