NEW YORK — There were calls for justice Tuesday following another disturbing subway crime, this time involving a transit worker.
A man is accused of beating a subway cleaner so severely he had to be hospitalized.
The passionate pleas were heard outside the Bronx County Hall of Justice on Tuesday.
Loved ones and co-workers of Anthony Nelson want the man who allegedly badly beat the 35-year-old while he was on the job to be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
“Anthony is not the first, but we want [him] to be the last,” said Robert Kelley of Transport Workers Union Local 100.
Kelley says transit workers fear for their lives constantly and often get assaulted.
“Don’t come to work to be punching bags,” Kelley said.
Anthony Nelson
Last week, Nelson was cleaning the Pelham Bay subway station in the Bronx, when police allege 49-year-old Alexander Wright started to harass customers.
Nelson then stepped in to protect them, but the suspect quickly turned his rage toward Nelson, breaking his collarbone and nose.
According to criminal complaint, Wright attacked “with intent to cause physical injury.”
“I spoke to him this morning. He’s tired. He’s in a lot of pain,” said Lisa Nelson, the victim’s mother.
She said she thinks her son is a hero and in her words added the man who attacked him is a menace to society. He was previously arrested more than 40 times.
“He’s a repeated offender. He could hurt anybody,” Lisa Nelson said. “For all we know, Anthony could have saved someone else’s life, because we don’t know what this man could have did.”
Anthony Nelson’s family also said the only reason Wright is currently in custody is because Nelson was able to help hold down the suspect until officers arrived, despite his injuries.
“I feel like the city didn’t do what they’re supposed to do, because if they did, my bother would not have gotten hurt,” sister Mashia Nelson said.
The president of NYC Transit is now calling for swift prosecution and justice.
“I hope that [Bronx DA Darcel Clark] throws the book at this guy who viciously attacked our employee. This has been going on too much, and it’s been going on too long here in the city of New York for MTA workers,” NYC Transit President Richard Davey said.
Tony Utano, president of TWU Local 100, agrees, adding action is needed to better protect workers.
“We need to stop these assaults. Our people did not come to this job to end up in the hospital,” Utano said.
Anthony Nelson’s attacker remains in police custody, charged with two counts of assault and one count of harassment. He was scheduled to appear in front of a judge later Tuesday.
The victim underwent a second surgery Monday to reconstruct his shoulder. The family said the entire ordeal has been traumatic for him, but he is in good spirits.
