Career Criminal Arrested in Arson Attack on Station Agent
A career criminal with five felony convictions was arrested on Tuesday and charged with lighting up a gasoline-soaked rag and shoving it into the money slot of a station booth to force the NYCT Station Agent to give up cash. The late-night attack last Friday at the Nostrand Avenue station on the #3 line in Crown Heights left Station Agent Percillia Agustine-Soverall "crying and in shock" when the halon system in the booth came on to douse the fire, filling the booth with a white cloud of fire retardant.
Daily News reporter Dan Rivoli reported the story and you can read it here.
President Samuelsen told Rivoli: "This was a cowardly, evil act against a transit worker who was simply doing her job. New York is able to work because we run the subways and buses every day. But our members face countless dangers, including arson attacks, while providing this vital public service."
Everett Robinson, 51, who has been charged with the crime, was arraigned today in Brooklyn Criminal Court. He has an extensive rap sheet including a five-year stint in jail for robbery. TWU Local 100 is demanding that Robinson pay the maximum possible penalty for this horrific crime against a transit worker. We will be holding a rally outside the courthouse to coincide with the next important court date for this case, and will need your support. Stay tuned for our updates.