Police have released cellphone video showing a man hitting a woman on the head and face while aboard an R subway train.
The video shows the man standing above a seated woman in a verbal altercation, before striking her.
Police say the incident took place last Friday after midnight before the train arrived at the Court Street station, where the passenger got off. Police are still investigating the issue and looking to determine what caused the incident.
After a string of violent attacks at subway stations across the city, the MTA says it needs more police in the subway system. In a statement, the MTA said that an increase in officers “enables faster response to emergencies when they occur and allows officers to quickly see and address people displaying mental health problems who could be a danger to themselves and others – with the ability to intervene before a crime happens.”
Some steps commuters can take to stay safe is to increase awareness while commuting late at night or early in the morning, avoiding empty cars and keeping valuables such as cellphones and wallets tucked away.
Any information regarding this situation should be called into Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).