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MTA Employee Arrested for Assaulting Straphanger in The Bronx

By Ben Fractenberg | March 16, 2012 7:45am
An MTA worker was arrested in The Bronx after assaulting a customer on March 15, 2012, police said.
An MTA worker was arrested in The Bronx after assaulting a customer on March 15, 2012, police said.
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BRONX — A MTA employee was arrested Thursday after assaulting a straphanger in The Bronx, police said.

Phylathia Monroe, 45, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault for punching a woman in the face after the two got into an argument about 5:30 a.m., the NYPD said.

The incident occurred when alleged victim Janet Ojeda went to the booth where Monroe was working at the 138th Street Station on the 4/5 line and realized she was 10 cents short for a fare, CBS reported.

Monroe then reportedly called for the next customer in line to come forward, but Ojeda said she found the money before the two women began to argue.

Monroe then got out of the booth and attacked Ojeda, police said.

“She was looking at me like she wasn’t gonna let go. I felt like I was [going to pass out] 'cause I couldn’t even move my legs," Ojeda told CBS, saying she was choked as well as punched. "She lifted me up from the ground by the neck."

Ojeda reportedly broke free and called 911.

Officers responded to the station and arrested Monroe, police said.