EAST WILLIAMSBURG — A young Virginia couple visiting New York City attacked a transit police officer, hitting him repeatedly with his own baton and choking him with the chain attached to the shield around his neck when the officer tried to arrest one of them for turnstile jumping, prosecutors charge.
Alexander Telinde, 21, hopped a turnstile, according to police, about 11:40 p.m. on April 12 at the Morgan Avenue L train stop in East Williamsburg.
A transit police officer stopped Telinde who was with his 20-year-old girlfriend, Emily Weber, according to police and posts to social media accounts, but the couple fought back.
"You're not real cops. Those are fake badges," Weber said, according to police.
Then Telinde grabbed the officer's baton from his belt and hit him repeatedly over the head, on his right eye, left shoulder, across the lips and on both knees, authorities said.
He yanked at the officer's police shield that was dangling from his neck causing the man to choke, prosecutors said.
Weber punched the battered officer in the face and then tried to run away, officials said.
Another officer arrived on scene and helped cuff the duo, both of whom resisted arrest, according to prosecutors.
The injured officer suffered a concussion, a black eye and a lump on his head, following the attack, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors charged Telinde with assault, harassment, theft of services, menacing of a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Weber faces assault and disorderly conduct charges among others.
Weber and Telinde paid $5,000 bail each and are due back in court on Oct. 28, according to court and corrections records.
Their lawyers couldn't be reached immediately for comment. Neither responded to a request for comment on Facebook.