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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Parents attack female middle school deputy, steal her taser, bodycam video shows. Sheriff reacts with profanity-laced tirade.



A Florida man and his wife were arrested Tuesday after they attacked a female school resource deputy, authorities said, citing police bodycam footage.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that two parents — 46-year-old Jorge Rivera and 45-year-old Dagmarie Aponte Iturrino — assaulted the deputy at Deltona Middle School on Tuesday morning.

'To be clear, the only piece of s**t in that video is the mother and father. They're the pieces of s**t.'

The confrontation purportedly stemmed from the couple's 11-year-old son getting into a physical altercation with a girl. The parents went to the school to protest a battery charge against their son that resulted in a civil citation, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told WESH-TV.

According to the bodycam video, the parents confronted the school resource deputy for accusing their son of being the "primary aggressor" in the incident with the girl.

Video shows Rivera responding, "You failed a kid. You’re failing kids right here. We’re not talking about us because believe me, if it were about the adults we could solve this a whole different level. We are talking about kids."

A visibly agitated Rivera told the school resource deputy, "Why are you so worthless? Do you feel proud that you are this worthless, lady? Shut the f*** up because I pay your salary, you dumb b***h!"

"You are a worthless piece of s**t," Rivera told the female law enforcement officer.

The wife unsuccessfully attempted to get her husband to calm down.

Deputy Julia Curtin asked the parents to leave her office at the school.

Rivera is seen on bodycam video in a school hallway putting his hand in the deputy's face.

Suddenly, Iturrino is seen physically confronting the officer, and video shows Rivera jumping into the fracas.

The officer draws her taser, but Rivera apparently punches the deputy in the head, knocking her to the ground. He then rips the deputy's taser from her hand.

A school employee tries to stop Rivera from using the taser.

Deputy Curtin draws her gun and yells: "Put it down right f***ing now! Put your hands behind your f***ing back now!"

Rivera is seen dropping the taser, and the deputy arrests Rivera and Iturrino.

According to jail records, both parents were charged with resisting arrest with violence, trespass on school property after warning, and disputing a school function. Rivera was hit with charges of grand theft, battery on a law enforcement officer, and assault or battery on specified officials or employees.

Iturrino bonded out of jail Tuesday night, WESH-TV reported. In an ironic twist, Iturrino is a pre-K teacher at Spirit Elementary School in Deltona, according to the school's website. WESH said she's been suspended.

Rivera appeared before a judge Wednesday, WESH said, adding that his bail was set at $42,000.

Chitwood blasted the parents in a profanity-laced press conference Wednesday.

'In training, if you lose your taser, you automatically transition to your firearm. If you take a deputy’s taser, you can almost expect to get shot.'

Chitwood claimed the parents' son "bullied and shoved a little girl." He said that the parents were questioning the deputy as to why the girl had not been disciplined in the altercation.

The sheriff played the video clip of Rivera calling the deputy a "worthless piece of s**t."

Chitwood lambasted the parents, "To be clear, the only piece of s**t in that video is the mother and father. They're the pieces of s**t."

He continued, "They attacked my deputy; she suffered a concussion."

Chitwood declared that Iturrino "deserves to be fired" from her teaching job for her role in the alleged assault of the deputy.

"I'm not gonna have pieces of s**t like that come in and attack a deputy doing their job and not expect that they're not going to be held accountable for that," Chitwood proclaimed.

The sheriff noted, "To say I’m furious is beyond. There's no reason I got a deputy home with a concussion for something so goddamn trivial." He said the deputy will be on bed rest for four days, WESH reported.

Chitwood pointed out, "In training, if you lose your taser, you automatically transition to your firearm. If you take a deputy’s taser, you can almost expect to get shot. ... Thank God that’s not what happened in these close grounds."

What's more, Chitwood said the battery charge for the couple's son was not a criminal charge but a civil citation, according to WESH.

"You go before the judge," Chitwood said, according to WESH. "The judge looks at the evidence, and then a judge would impose sanctions, whether it's counseling, community service, whatever it is, and then the whole thing goes away."

Content warning: Language:

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Security guard fatally shoots male who held gun to his head, threatened to kill him; prosecutors say guard won't be charged



A security guard fatally shot a male who held a gun to his the back of his head and threatened to kill him two months ago in Aurora, Colorado — and prosecutors on Monday said the guard acted in self-defense and won't be charged, KUSA-TV reported.

Police responded about 9 p.m. Aug. 31 to a report of a shooting outside a 7-Eleven in the 12000 block of East Colfax, the station said.

'He did his job, and he defended himself in the process.'

Prosecutors said Vernon Dorsey approached the guard, who was walking in front of the store, and placed a handgun to the back of the guard's head, KUSA said. Dorsey ordered the guard to hand over his gun and threatened to kill him, the station added.

KUSA said Dorsey and the guard fought as Dorsey attempted to disarm the guard.

But instead, the guard got hold of his own gun and shot Dorsey in the chest, KUSA said.

When officers arrived, they found Dorsey with a gunshot wound, the station said, adding that Dorsey later died. Dorsey was 36 years old, KUSA said in an earlier story.

The District Attorney’s Office and the Aurora Police Department agreed after reviewing evidence that the guard fired his weapon in self-defense and was legally justified, KUSA said.

Anything else?

The station said the guard was taken to police headquarters and questioned and that police at the time believed the guard was acting in self-defense.

The private company that supplies the guards for 7-Eleven — Iron Spear Protection Group LLC — said in a statement at the time that it's backing the guard in question with "absolute certainty" after reviewing the incident, KUSA reported.

Iron Spear's president stated at the time of the incident that the guard was in good condition and with his family, the station added.

How are observers reacting?

Commenters under KUSA's Facebook post about the incident were solidly behind the guard's actions:

  • "Good work, sir, here is a raise," one commenter said.
  • Good," another user added. "He did his job, and he defended himself in the process."
  • "Happy ending feel-good story!!!" another commenter exclaimed.

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Motorist with long criminal history allegedly tries to run over a father and son. But Dad has a gun.



A motorist with a long criminal history allegedly tried to run over a father and son Saturday in Florida — but authorities said the father fatally shot the motorist.

Marcus Blicker, 47, followed two vehicles driven by a neighbor’s son and his friend and aggressively swerved toward them in traffic, deputies from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office told the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Blicker was found dead in the driver’s seat of his pickup.

The neighbor's son called his father and told him he was being followed, the News-Journal said.

When the son and his friend got to the father's home on Jackson Lane in Port Orange, deputies told the paper that Blicker arrived there as well and started yelling and threatening the son and his friend. Port Orange is about 15 minutes south of Daytona Beach.

The homeowner fired warning shots, asking Blicker to leave, the News-Journal reported.

However, the paper said Blicker around 7:40 p.m. tried to ram them with his truck and was shot.

When deputies arrived at the scene, Blicker was found dead in the driver’s seat of his pickup, the sheriff's office told the News-Journal.

The incident was captured on video and audio recordings that support the accounts of the shooter and witnesses, deputies told the paper.

No criminal charges have been filed against the homeowner who shot Blicker, the News-Journal reported. The sheriff's office added to the paper that the shooting remains under investigation.

The News-Journal also noted that a Rottweiler in Blicker's truck was injured during the shooting, after which Volusia County Animal Services responded and took the dog for veterinary care. The dog is expected to recover, the paper said.

The News-Journal, citing court records, said Blicker has a long criminal history. He was arrested in 2020 for aggravated stalking, for which he served 12 months' probation, the paper said, adding that in 2012 he was sentenced to 12 months' probation for battery after punching a woman in the cheek at the Flagler Tavern in New Smyrna Beach.

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15-year-old student allegedly bashes HS staffer in head with laptop; victim, 54, hospitalized, has trouble breathing



A 15-year-old student allegedly hit a high school staff member in the head with a laptop — and the victim, 54, was hospitalized and reportedly had trouble breathing.

The incident took place last Monday at Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland, which is part of Montgomery County Schools, WTTG-TV reported.

'He'll probably get in-school detention followed by a transfer to another school.'

Principal Scott E. Smith confirmed the incident in a letter to families and staff, the station said, adding that emergency services were called to the scene, and the Montgomery County Police Department was investigating.

The staff member was taken to a hospital for treatment, district's spokesperson Liliana López told WTTG.

"We can confirm that a student struck and injured a staff member," López said in a statement, according to the station. "The staff member was transported to the hospital by emergency services."

Citing police radio transmissions, MoCo360 reported that the student allegedly hit the staff member in the head with a laptop.

The dispatcher said the staff member — a 54-year-old man — was conscious but having trouble breathing after the alleged assault, the outlet added.

MoCo360, citing radio transmissions, said the 15-year-old student in question was taken to the school’s office and was with the school’s security staff following the alleged incident.

“It is important to note that any student who chooses to commit an act of violence will be subject to progressive discipline in alignment with the MCPS Code of Conduct up to possible expulsion," Smith wrote in his letter, according to the outlet. "Police will determine whether criminal charges may apply."

How are observers reacting?

As you might expect, some observers on various Facebook posts from news sites weren't thrilled with the incident:

  • "He'll probably get in-school detention followed by a transfer to another school," one commenter wrote.
  • "Sue the parents," another commenter said.
  • "Oh, how awful," another commenter reacted. "I hope the teacher/staff member is okay, and that the student is removed from the school."

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DC bartender fights back against 3 teenage wannabe carjackers — and wins: 'I work too hard for what I have'



A Washington, D.C., bartender fought back against three teenage would-be carjackers over the weekend and won the battle.

Randy White's reason for mixing it up with the young crooks? "I work too hard for what I have," he told WTTG-TV in the aftermath.

'I can't give up my property like that. It's not in me. I wasn't raised that way.'

The harrowing ordeal took place around 6 p.m. Saturday after White pulled into a Sunoco gas station on 9th Street NW, the station said.

He parked his Jeep Grand Cherokee — and noticed three teenagers standing nearby, WTTG said, adding that White didn't think much about their presence. That would soon change.

White walked into the gas station's convenience store, made his purchase, and returned to his vehicle — and the station said surveillance video showed the trio attacking White. He told WTTG they demanded his belongings.

Nothing doing.

The surveillance clip shows White fighting back, at one point throwing a right-handed haymaker at one of the crooks.

But he told the station one of the suspects managed to put him in a choke hold and pull him to the ground. What's more, White told WTTG one of the suspects dropped a rifle magazine — which police confirmed.

Then White's car keys fell out of his pocket, and one of the teens grabbed the keys and two of the suspects jumped into White's Jeep and tried to drive off, the station said.

But White refused to give up or back down, WTTG said

This time he got into his Jeep with the crooks and continued to fight them, the station said, after which they gave up and departed from the scene — and without the victim's Jeep.

Witnesses quickly called 911, WTTG said, adding that while the teens took White's key fob, it has since been replaced.

So what compelled White to fight back?

"Where I grew up, it's just … I work too hard for what I have," he told the station. "I can't give up my property like that. It's not in me. I wasn't raised that way."

White also sent a message to his attackers, telling WTTG they should "figure something else out to make money. Stop hurting people. It's kind of ridiculous."

Authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects, the station said, adding that those with information are encouraged to contact D.C. police.

You can view a video report here about the incident; it includes the interview with White.

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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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Violent felon accused of fatally shooting off-duty corrections officer who intervened after suspect allegedly beat female



A felon with a violent criminal history is accused of fatally shooting an off-duty corrections officer who intervened when the suspect allegedly was beating a woman at a Florida truck stop early Saturday morning.

The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested 29-year-old Demaurea Grant at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at a home in Gastonia, North Carolina, and is pending extradition to Jacksonville, the Florida Times-Union reported, citing Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters' announcement during a news conference.

Grant is charged with murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault with a firearm, and discharging a firearm in public.

Grant is accused of killing Officer Bradley McNew, a sheriff's office corrections officer and 24-year veteran of the department, the Times-Union said.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said a male and female were involved in a violent dispute around 1:20 a.m. in the 12900 block of Duval Road. You can view surveillance video of the incident here. The suspect was observed exiting a black Mustang, placing a black handgun on the hood, removing the female from the driver’s seat, and then battering the female, throwing her against the vehicle and the ground.

Off-duty Corrections Officer Bradley McNew had just finished his shift, heard the disturbance, and went to check on the female victim, the sheriff's office said. The suspect approached McNew, said it was a family matter, re-engaged with the female, and then pointed the gun in Officer McNew’s direction, the sheriff's office said.

The suspect and female returned to the vehicle, and as they were leaving the scene, the suspect was observed hanging out of the window, firing the handgun, and striking Officer McNew, the sheriff's office said, adding that he was taken to a hospital where he died. The Times-Union said McNew was in plain clothes at the time.

The sheriff's office noted that the Mustang had a North Carolina license plate of RHL-4285.

Sheriff Waters said the U.S. Marshals took Grant ― a felon with a violent criminal history ― into custody without incident, the Times-Union said, adding that tips from citizens as well as the investigation by detectives from the Sheriff's Office, the Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, and the State Attorney's Office led to his arrest.

Grant is charged with murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault with a firearm, and discharging a firearm in public, Waters said, according to the paper.

The sheriff added that a female who was with Grant was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant regarding a North Carolina crime, the Times-Union said, adding that the sheriff's office didn't release her name or say what her relationship, if any, might be to Grant.

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Teen thug accused of beating, robbing 83-year-old woman in broad daylight — but 3 adults allegedly put him up to it



A 15-year-old male is accused of beating and robbing an 83-year-old woman in broad daylight in front of a New Jersey supermarket last week — but three adults allegedly put him up to it.

Somers Point police said officers responded just before 11 a.m. Oct. 3 to an Acme supermarket in regard to a strong-armed robbery.

'Hoping for a judge who will put them away.'

Police said someone approached an 83-year-old Somers Point woman from behind near the store's entrance and then assaulted her and stole her purse. Somers Point is on the south Jersey shore about a half hour southwest of Atlantic City.

The accused — described as a younger male, possibly white, wearing a mask and dark clothing — fled the scene toward Bethel Road, police said.

The victim suffered facial and upper body injuries, after which she received medical treatment and was released, police said in a follow-up post.

Arrests

Police said they executed multiple search warrants on residences and a vehicle in Atlantic City and Egg Harbor Township to obtain evidence — and then arrested the following individuals:

  • A 15-year-old male from Egg Harbor Township on charges of robbery, aggravated assault, and theft. The teen was taken to Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center.
  • Maria DeSantis, 60, of Woodbine on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit theft, using/employing a juvenile to commit a crime, and receiving stolen property.
  • Charles Ogelsby Jr., 23, of Atlantic City, on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit theft, using/employing a juvenile to commit a crime, and receiving stolen property. Ogelsby also was charged with possession of a defaced firearm.
  • Emily Labaco, 22, of Atlantic City, on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit theft, using/employing a juvenile to commit a crime, and receiving stolen property.

All three adult suspects were taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

How are observers reacting?

Nearly 300 comments have been posted underneath the police department's Facebook post about the incident, and most seemed pleased with the police response. One offered, "Great work! Hoping for a judge who will put them away."

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Males just 12 and 13 years old accused of beating former NY Democratic governor on Manhattan street — and it gets even wilder



A 12-year-old male and a 13-year-old male were arrested Saturday in connection with a physical attack on former New York Democratic Gov. David Paterson and his stepson, police told the Associated Press.

Paterson, 70, and his stepson, Anthony Sliwa, 20, were attacked around 8:30 p.m. Friday while they were walking on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the AP said, adding that they were treated at a hospital for minor facial injuries.

Paterson said his stepson encountered some of the attackers beforehand while walking the family dog.

Paterson is legally blind and suffered bodily injuries, the outlet said, adding that Sliwa is the son of Guardian Angels anti-crime group founder Curtis Sliwa.

The two juvenile males both were charged with gang assault, the AP said, adding that authorities indicated at least five people were involved in the attack.

Paterson was governor from 2008 to 2010 following Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer's resignation in a prostitution scandal, the outlet said, which added that Paterson was New York's first black governor.

Paterson said his stepson encountered some of the attackers beforehand while walking the family dog, telling them he would call police if they didn't stop climbing up a Second Avenue building's fire escape, the AP said.

It was after the aforementioned exchange that Paterson said he and his stepson went for a walk, ran into the same group, and an argument ensued before the group attacked Paterson and Sliwa, the outlet reported.

Paterson said his stepson fought off multiple attackers but ended up with a facial cut that required several stitches, the AP said.

Two more arrests

In addition to the pair of arrested juveniles, two adults were arrested Monday in connection with the attack on Patterson and Sliwa.

Travor Nurse, 40, and Diamond Minter, 34 — both New York City Housing Authority workers — were arrested on Second Avenue near East 96th Street, police and sources told the New York Post.

Trevor Nurse, 40, and Diamond Minter, 34, were charged in the gang attack on former New York Gov. David Paterson.Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Both suspects were charged with second-degree gang assault, the Post said, adding that Nurse also was accused of punching Paterson and faces an additional assault charge for injuring a victim 65 or older. Both charges are felonies, police told the paper.

A 14-year-old male wasn't charged after police determined he was not an aggressor, the Post said.

The paper, citing sources, added that Nurse previously was arrested in Brooklyn in late July on an aggravated unlicensed operator charge, in addition to other traffic violations. The Post, citing sources, also reported that Nurse was arrested in August 2009 for gun possession.

The paper said it wasn't immediately known if Minter, the other adult arrestee, has previous arrests on her record.

The pair's employer, the New York City Housing Authority, said they're both still employed, the Post said.

“They have not reported to work,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “This is an active NYPD investigation. We don’t have any additional information at this time.”

You can view a video report here about the incident.

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