Subway rider fights back after 'much bigger' passenger slaps him in face, sends his glasses flying



Alexander Rakitin told the New York Post he's been commuting from Brooklyn to Manhattan on the subway for almost three decades — but in the last couple of years he's noticed the danger factor increase.

“I think everyone who takes the subway feels scared and nervous,” Rakitin, a father who works in finance, told the Post. “There’s a degree of nervousness all the time. Scanning my surroundings, seeing irate, angry people. People just not following the rules, antisocial behavior, criminal behavior, and aggression.”

'Everybody that gets on the subway in the morning knows they're going down into a dangerous place. That's just the reality we live in.'

Rakitin experienced all of that dialed up several notches earlier this week in a dangerous encounter captured on cellphone video.

Just after 8:30 a.m. Monday, Rakitin was aboard the N train when another passenger became upset, WABC-TV reported.

The Post noted that Rakitin, 42, accidentally nudged the knee of 34-year-old Timothy Barbee.

"He's being aggressive that apparently I sat too close to him, even though I wasn't in an adjacent seat," Rakitin told the station. "It's just he felt that's his personal space, and he was being very aggressive. I told him to just chill out. Like, just chill. It's 8:30 in the morning. Just going to work. Nobody needs this. Just chill out. And he just escalated."

Video shows the pair jawing at each other with apparent expletives when Barbee tells Rakitin to "make me chill" and repeatedly orders him to "shut the f*** up." Rakitin tells Barbee that "you started it," and the pair stare each other down.

With that, Barbee tells Rakitin, “I ain’t got time to go to jail today" and to "stop staring at me" — and then slaps Rakitin in the face, causing Rakitin's glasses to fly off his head.

Rakitin told WABC that while he's had previous encounters on the subway, this was the first time it escalated into physical violence.

But Rakitin said he fought back.

"I got on top of him, and I just grabbed ahold of him," he told the station. "And I was thinking, like, 'Just don't let go because he's much bigger than me.' I don't know what's on his mind, so I was just holding him until the cops came."

Rakitin added to WABC that Barbee started calling out for help. What's more, Rakitin told the Post that Barbee — and other passengers — actually began telling Ratikin to let Barbee go.

“The only way I can explain it to myself is that the people that saw it start, how it started, they just ran away," Rakitin told the paper. "Most people just ran away into a different train car. And then the people that didn’t see it start only paid attention when I wrestled him to the ground.”

The Post said Barbee was arrested after the train pulled into the next stop; he was charged with third-degree assault. WABC said Rakitin wasn't seriously hurt.

Barbee declined to comment on the incident after his Tuesday arraignment, the Post reported.

"Everybody that gets on the subway in the morning knows they're going down into a dangerous place," Rakitin told WABC. "That's just the reality we live in."

You can view WABC's video report here about the incident. The Post's video shows the argument, the slap — and then Barbee being led off the train in handcuffs.

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Popeyes employee stabs customer in self-defense after dispute over food order, police say



A Philadelphia Popeyes employee stabbed a customer in self-defense after an argument over a food order turned physical late Tuesday night, police told WPVI-TV.

Police told the station the incident took place just before midnight in the 6000 block of North Broad Street; officials noted to WPVI there were roughly eight employees in the store at the time.

Police said the employee so far isn't being charged.

"The 28-year-old customer had some sort of dispute with employees over a food order and began attacking and assaulting one of the employees," Chief Inspector Scott Small of the Philadelphia Police Department told the station. "Other employees intervened and tried to push this 28-year-old out — back out from the front door. That's when the 34-year-old employee getting assaulted and attacked pulled a knife and stabbed the 28-year-old."

WPVI reported that the male was stabbed multiple times in the torso and head.

The male ran away after the stabbing, but police told the station they followed a blood trail to a nearby house where they found him. WPVI said the customer was taken to a hospital where he's in stable condition and in police custody

The Popeyes employee remained on scene and was cooperating with detectives, the station said, adding that police said the employee so far isn't being charged.

Police added to WPVI that the entire incident was recorded on surveillance video.

How are observers reacting?

Commenters underneath WPVI's video posted to YouTube appeared incredulous — and sometimes sarcastic — over the incident:

  • "Not only is fast food bad for you, these days it can be fatal," one commenter wrote.
  • "Over fried chicken," another commenter noted. "Let that sink in."
  • "If I got the honey mustard sauce instead of the spicy buffalo like I ordered, I'd be pissed off, too," another commenter quipped.
  • "I understand you got to defend yourself, but this is just crazy," another commenter stated. "Arguing over a food dispute."
  • "U can’t make this s**t up," another commenter declared.

- YouTube youtu.be

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Motorist allegedly tries to run over trio standing on home's lawn after argument. Driver's downfall? One victim has a gun.



A motorist in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this month allegedly tried to run over three people who were standing on a home's lawn after an argument.

But one of driver's alleged targets was carrying a gun — and the victim's aim was true.

'Let this be a lesson. Don't bring a car to a gunfight.'

Police said 32-year-old Alexander Oglesby after an argument "used his vehicle as a weapon, driving it off the roadway in an attempt to strike the three victims" in the 1800 block of Noe Bixby Road around 2 a.m. Oct. 5.

Police added that "tire tracks at the scene show that Mr. Oglesby drove at the victims, who were approximately 40 yards away in the grass in front of their residence. One of the victims fired shots at Mr. Oglesby in self-defense and struck Mr. Oglesby. He was taken to an area hospital and treated for the injury."

Police said Oglesby was charged with three counts of felonious assault and taken to the Franklin County Jail. According to jail records, Oglesby on Tuesday was still incarcerated.

Police also said those with information about the incident are asked to contact Columbus Police Felony Assault Det. Reffitt #222 at 614-645-4323 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477) — and that callers may remain anonymous.

How are observers reacting?

A handful of commenters underneath WCMH-TV's Facebook post about the incident completely backed up the person who pulled the trigger:

  • "Yeaaa, right, guns are the problem," one commenter noted sarcastically.
  • "Let this be a lesson," another user warned with tongue planted firmly in cheek. "Don't bring a car to a gunfight."
  • "The gun grabbers hate stories like this," another commenter declared.

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In bizarre debate moment, off-track Biden challenges Trump to golf game 'if you can carry your own bag — think you can do it?'



Amid a debate question Thursday night asking President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump what they would say to voters concerned about their ages — Biden is 81 while Trump is 78 — Trump responded by saying that he "aced" two cognitive tests and noted that Biden took no cognitive tests.

Shifting to his physical abilities, Trump said, "We knock on wood wherever we may have wood that I'm in very good health." He added, "I just won two club [non-senior golf] championships ... to do that you have to be quite smart, and you have to be able to hit the ball a long way." Speaking of Biden, Trump said "he can't hit a ball 50 yards."

Then Trump shot back a zinger: 'That's the biggest lie — that he is a six handicap — of all.'

Biden's response began with him saying something unintelligible about Trump's height and weight, after which Biden said he'd "be happy to have a [golf] driving contest" with Trump — and then claimed "I got my [golf] handicap when I was vice president down to a six."

Trump turned away in mirth, likely because such a handicap is considered excellent.

Then things got comical, as Biden turned to Trump in schoolyard fashion and threw down hard: "And by the way, I told you before I'm happy to play golf with you if you carry your own bag."

Pregnant pause. Tension was hanging in the air. Biden then challenged Trump with a long, cold stare: "Think you can do it?"

Less insane than a push-up contest, at least.

Then Trump shot back a zinger: "That's the biggest lie — that he is a six handicap — of all."

Biden was well off track by this point, perhaps forgetting what handicap number he just blurted out seconds before: "I was an eight handicap," which invited a smirk from Trump, who quietly retorted, "Yeah. Never."

Unfortunately for Biden, the dust-up over golf led to one of his more noticeable verbal freeze ups, as he couldn't get the rest of his words out of his mouth.

Trump stepped in: "I've seen his swing, I know your swing." As Biden seemed lost in space, Trump interjected, "Let's not not act like children, Joe."

Biden's reply? "You are a child." Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

— (@)

How did observers react?

As you might expect folks reacted quite strongly to the Biden-Trump golf challenge:

  • Fore Play — a Barstool Sports podcast "by the common golfer, for the common golfer" — noted, "We’re talking golf handicaps at the presidential debate, folks. Can’t make it up."
  • Golf pro Bryson DeChambeau told the candidates, "Let’s settle this whole handicap debate, I’ll host the golf match on my YouTube."
  • Comic Bridget Phetasy quipped, "Two old men fighting over golf is the debate we deserve."
  • Kayce Smith of Barstool Sports wrote, "I don’t know about you guys but I’m definitely voting for the candidate who wins the part of the debate where they argue who has a lower golf handicap. WHAT THE F*** ARE WE DOING!?"

Finally, check out the reaction from CBS News' Margaret Brennan:

— (@)

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Wendy's worker punches drive-thru customer through car window — then steals car, hits victim with car, bites 2 cops: Police



Police said a St. Louis-area Wendy's employee physically attacked a drive-thru customer after an argument earlier this week, KPLR-TV reported — but that ain't the half of what the suspect is accused of.

In short, the worker allegedly punched the customer through his driver-side window, stole the victim's car, returned to the scene and hit the victim with the car, and bit two cops.

Then there was the whole hammer thing.

What are the details?

Police in Overland — which is about 20 minutes northwest of St. Louis — headed to the restaurant in the 8900 block of Page Avenue after a report of a fight in progress Monday, KPLR-TV reported.

The victim told officers that he got into an argument with the employee while in the drive-thru lane, the station said.

The victim said the employee — later identified as 27-year-old Leon S. Johnson — exited the restaurant and began punching him through his open car window, KMOV-TV reported.

The victim told police he grabbed a hammer from his car and began swinging it at Johnson to get him to back off, KPLR said, adding that the victim soon exited his car with the hammer — but then Johnson got in the victim’s car and drove off.

KSDK-TV reported, citing court documents, that Johnson soon returned to the restaurant and hit the customer with the car, knocking the hammer out of the customer's hand. Johnson then got out of the car, picked up the hammer, and began to hit the car's front windshield, KSDK added. The KPLR report indicates Johnson hit the victim with the hammer.

The customer suffered a "laceration on his lip and multiple contusions to his face," police told KSDK, which added that officers said Johnson admitted to taking the victim’s car and hitting him with it. Police also said Johnson bit two officers who tried to arrest him, KSDK added. Jail records indicate the arrest took place just after 9 p.m.

It's unclear what the victim and Johnson were arguing about, KSDK added.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Johnson with first-degree assault, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, third-degree assault, second-degree property damage, resisting arrest for a felony, and two counts of fourth-degree assault, KSDK said, adding that all the charges are felonies.

Johnson was jailed on a $500,000 cash-only bond, KSDK noted. He remained in jail as of Friday morning.

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Three females repeatedly punch, stomp female crossing guard in Philly after argument; beaten victim hospitalized, cops say



Philadelphia police said three females repeatedly punched and stomped on a female crossing guard after an argument, after which the 29-year-old victim was hospitalized.

What are the details?

While the attack took place Nov. 30, police on Tuesday released information about the attack, including still images of the suspects.

Police said the victim was working as a crossing guard at 2800 Cecil B. Moore Avenue around 3:40 p.m. when she was involved in an argument with three unknown females.

Cops noted that the three females knocked the victim to the ground and punched and stomped her several times.

The victim suffered bruising to her head and face as well as swelling to her nose, left hand, and right leg, police said, adding that the victim was taken to Temple Hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Police said if you see these suspects, call 911 immediately and do not approach them. Call or text 215-686-TIPS (8477) to submit confidential tips. If you have any information about this crime or these suspects, police said to call Central Detective Division at 215-686-3093/3094 and ask for Detective Allen.

Aggravated Assault 2800 CB Moore Ave DC 23 22 069757 youtu.be

How are folks reacting?

Commenters on a WTXF-TV story published on Yahoo News were far from happy about the situation. Here's a sampling from among more than 1,200 (and counting) observations:

  • "Even if identified, found & 20 witnesses came forward, the city STILL wouldn't prosecute them. Probably reduce it to jaywalking," one commenter wrote. "Crime rules, the good citizens are thrown under the bus."
  • "The way to decrease crime is to increase punishment," another commenter opined. "It'll deter some and keep the ones who do commit crimes off the street longer. It's a win-win."
  • "Seems like a responsible and reasonable way for moral, thinking, introspective, intelligent human beings to behave," another commenter quipped.
  • "If you lived in that neighborhood would you come forward and identify any one of them?" another commenter wondered. "The police don't even want to go there."

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3 Tips For Exposing The Left’s Lack Of Logic In Political Debates

It’s imperative that conservatives understand and deploy the very best kinds of argumentation in order to refute bad arguments.

Vicious mob chases down, punches, kicks, stabs man following argument in Times Square food cart line



After an argument in a Times Square food cart line around 3:15 a.m. Saturday, a mob chased down a man and then punched, kicked, and stabbed him, the New York Daily News reported.

What are the details?

Police said the victim was squabbling with three people on Eighth Avenue near West 45th Street in New York City, the paper reported.

The trio called friends over, and then a mob chased the victim and beat him up, the Daily News said.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDTips

It appears the mob consisted of at least 16 people based on suspect photos New York City Police released in a video of the attack.

The mob members punched and kicked the victim in the head and body and stabbed him three times in the shoulder and back, the paper added.

Video shows one of the mob members hoisting a large, light-colored cylinder and apparently bringing it down hard upon the victim.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDTips

The Daily News added that a mob member threw a garbage can at the victim.

One of the attackers snatched the victim’s sunglasses and cellphone before the violent crew ran off down West 44th Street toward Seventh Avenue, the paper said.

What happened to the victim?

The 36-year-old victim — whose injuries include a stab wound to the lung — was treated at Bellevue Hospital and released, the Daily News said, adding that he's expected to recover.

Anything else?

Police are asking for the public’s help identifying and catching the suspects, the paper said, adding that anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

WANTEDfor an Assault in front of 700 8th Ave #Manhattan @NYPD14pct on 4/30/22@ 3:15A.M a group of individuals punched, kicked & stabbed the victim 3 times. Reward up to $3500 Know who they are?Call 1-800-577-TIPS Calls are CONFIDENTIAL!pic.twitter.com/besoFslKRH
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPD Crime Stoppers) 1651557653

Video: Parent rips school board chair's mask hypocrisy — with visual proof — and irate chair asks cop to remove her. When that fails, board chair storms out.



Don't look now, but it appears that those fighting to keep student mask mandates in place are coming unglued.

Case in point: During Tuesday's Montgomery County (Virginia) School Board meeting, parent Alecia Vaught ripped board members for double standards — and much more.

What happened?

“We sat here last year and listened to you guys preach to us about [former] Gov. [Ralph] Northam's executive orders [on masks in schools] and how we must follow them," she said at the microphone. "You guys remember that? We do."

Vaught added, “So here's the [new] governor [Glenn Youngkin] that comes into office. But yet you don't want to follow his orders [to make masks optional in schools]. Why is that? Why is it different from the last year ... to this year? Two different governors, two different political parties. So, we were supposed to follow it last year, but not this year. That makes no sense and makes all of you a bunch of hypocrites."

Oh, but it got much better.

Vaught then turned her attention to board Chair Sue Kass and pointed to photos on her cellphone of Kass maskless “with a crowd of people."

Image source: YouTube screenshot

With that, Kass exploded like an assistant principal yelling at a student and told Vaught "you are done" and soon asked a police officer to kick her out.

Image source: mrcTV video screenshot

When that didn't work, Kass slammed her laptop closed and stormed out of the meeting.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

And as Kass walked past a Vaught, she told the board chair "we're coming for your seat."

Kass' reply? "You can have my seat."

Here's the exchange:

What happened next?

Following the heated confrontation, Vaught and Kass spoke separately to WXFR-TV about the issues at hand.

First off, Vaught told the station that she and The Second Monday Constitution Group — of which she is the founder — sat in the front row of the room during the previous school board meeting and took off their masks in protest. That reportedly elicited yelling from Kass, WXFR said.

For her part, Kass told the station she's been receiving mean emails and phone calls regarding her position on the school board.

But Vaught told WXFR it’s about the board letting parents choose what's best for their children

“I am not right-wing. I am trying to do the right thing," Vaught added to the station. "I am doing the right thing for our kids, and I’m standing up and calling out hypocrisy when there is hypocrisy because we are all tired of it — it’s rules for thee and not for me."

But Kass told WXFR it's about respect: “She used a forum that is supposed to be for a community to express their concerns about the school, students, and staff, and she used that forum for her political purposes."

Vaught stuck to her guns, saying the board members "need to listen to the parents. We are the parents, we dictate how they grow up, how they get educated, and we pay the taxes for those schools to get built. We pay these salaries, we elect these board members onto the boards," the station said.

Angry, high-ranking state lawmaker appears to try pulling down pants of HS basketball referee, admits he 'acted the fool'



A high-ranking Tennessee state lawmaker was caught on video apparently trying to pull down the pants of a high school basketball referee during an argument earlier this week.

State Rep. Jeremy Faison — chairman of the state House Republican Caucus, the Tennessean reported — later admitted he "acted the fool" and was "bad wrong" and hoped to apologize to the official for his actions, according a statement he posted on Twitter.

Republican Tennessee state Rep. Jeremy FaisonImage source: Tennessee General Assembly website

What are the details?

Johnson City's Providence Academy recorded live on Facebook the game against Lakeway Christian Academy, which was visiting Tuesday night, the paper said. Video no longer exists on the school's Facebook page, but versions of it can be viewed on social media.

With seconds to go in the third quarter, a fight over a loose ball led to technical fouls for both teams, the Tennessean said. Video shows Faison sitting in the stands before heading to the court while referees broke up the fight, the paper said.

Game official Paul Pendleton later filed a report with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association — standard procedure following incidents at games — and the report said Pendleton told Faison to leave the gym, the Tennessean said.

Faison began to walk away before turning and pointing at an official, the paper said.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @HeartlandSignal

"You can't tell me to leave the floor, this was your fault," Faison said to Pendleton, the Tennessean said, citing the report.

Then video shows Faison bending down and apparently attempting to pull down Pendleton's pants, the paper said, adding that the referee's report said Faison tried to pull his pants "down and off."

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @HeartlandSignal

The Tennessean said shouts were heard as Faison walked away and someone called for police.

The report states Pendleton asked a game administrator to call the police, but police weren't called and Faison left "without further incident," the paper said.

Here's the clip:

TN State Rep. Jeremy Faison, House GOP Chair, tried to fight and depants a high school basketball referee.\n\nFAISON: "Unfortunately, I acted the fool tonight and lost my temper on a ref. I was wanting him to fight me. Totally lost my junk and got booted ... I was bad wrong."pic.twitter.com/qlBttjWZsg
— Heartland Signal (@Heartland Signal) 1641414753

What did the state lawmaker have to say?

While the Tennessean said Faison couldn't be reached by telephone for comment by mid-afternoon Wednesday, he had plenty to say on Twitter.

"For years I thought how wrong it is when a parent looses [sic] their temper at a sporting event," Faison wrote on Twitter. "It’s not Christian, and it’s not mature, and it’s embarrassing to the child have always been my thoughts."

He added, "Unfortunately, I acted the fool tonight and lost my temper on a ref. I was wanting him to fight me. Totally lost my junk and got booted ... from the gym. I’ve never really lost my temper, but I did tonight, and it was completely stupid of me. Emotions getting in the way of rational thoughts are never good. I hope to be able to find the ref and ask for his forgiveness. I was bad wrong."

I acted the fool tonight. \nI\u2019m hoping to be able to make it right.pic.twitter.com/W8PINvTue5
— Rep. Jeremy Faison (@Rep. Jeremy Faison) 1641347570