Over 1,000 NYC fare evaders had arrest warrants: Report.
Arrest Warrants and Weapons: The Dark Side of Fare Beating
Imagine this: over 1,000 people attempting to evade paying for their New York City subway rides, only to be caught and discover that they had active arrest warrants for other crimes. Shockingly, one of them was even accused of murder.
According to the NYPD data reviewed by the New York Post, out of the 2,502 New Yorkers arrested for fare beating this year, approximately 45% had active arrest warrants for various offenses. These offenses ranged from weapon possession and felony assault to drug-related crimes.
During a recent MTA Board meeting, NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper revealed that more than 200 fare beaters were apprehended with deadly weapons, including 13 guns and over 200 knives. The dangers lurking beneath the surface of fare evasion became all too apparent.
Subway Stabbings and High-Profile Arrests
Just last month, two men wanted for subway stabbings were captured within 24 hours of each other when they attempted to evade the fare. One of them, Claude White, a homeless man, was arrested and charged with murder and weapons charges after being spotted fare beating in a Harlem subway station while wearing blood-stained pants.
White was already being sought by the police for fatally stabbing another man in the chest on a Manhattan subway train in June. He was also wanted in connection with a bank robbery that occurred on June 6. The same four NYPD officers who caught White also apprehended Kemal Rideout, a suspected serial subway slasher, after recognizing him from a wanted poster.
Rideout had allegedly gone on a stabbing spree, targeting three random women at two different subway stations. His criminal history included charges of attempted rape, assault, criminal mischief, and forcible touching. Authorities revealed that he also had a history of mental illness.
Increased Police Presence and Technological Solutions
In response to these alarming incidents, the NYPD transit chief announced that over 1,000 additional officers had been deployed to patrol the subway system since the fall. As a result, subway crime has decreased by 6%, and the number of subway victims has fallen by a staggering 66% compared to last year.
Furthermore, arrests for subway crime have increased by 52%, and fare evasion arrests have skyrocketed by 143%. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has also taken steps to enhance security, investing heavily in surveillance cameras in subway stations and even inside subway cars.
Additionally, the MTA has embraced artificial intelligence to track fare beaters at select subway stations, with plans to expand this technology to two dozen more stations this year. These measures aim to combat fare evasion, which cost the MTA a staggering $690 million in 2022.
A City in Flux
While overall crime in New York City has remained relatively stable, with a decline in violent crime such as homicides and shootings, there has been a concerning 33% increase in car thefts this year. The city also continues to grapple with a homelessness and drug addiction crisis, highlighting the complex challenges it faces.
As New York City strives to maintain safety and security within its subway system, the battle against fare evasion serves as a stark reminder of the underlying criminal activity that can be uncovered. Through increased police presence and technological advancements, authorities are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of commuters and maintain the integrity of the city’s public transit system.
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