CTA Nelson's Assailant Remanded to Bellevue; Judged Unfit for Trial

FEBRUARY 9 -- A panel of doctors appointed by a Bronx judge found Alexander Wright, accused in the brutal assault of CTA Anthony Nelson, unfit for trial and remanded him to Bellevue Hospital for psychiatric treatment. The latest turn in the case against Wright was greeted with dismay by Nelson's family and co-workers in the Stations Department who turned out in numbers at the Bronx Hall of Justice.

Nelson had his collarbone and nose broken, and his arm injured in the assault back on August 11th at the Pelham Bay Station on the 6 Line. He came to aid riders who were being harassed by Wright, who then assaulted him. Wright had more than 40 arrests at the time, and MTA CEO Janno Lieber called for him to be banned from the transit system.

At today's court support, Brother Nelson spoke of the importance of unity and all transit workers standing together to make our voices heard on the issue of assaults. MTA Senior VP Frank Annicaro, attending at the request of NYCT President Richard Davey, said of Nelson, "Doing what's right is the right thing to do, and Anthony showed that. We're here to support him. We want to thank [him] for representing the MTA."

"Two court-appointed doctors examined the defendant and found him unfit to proceed to trial," Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said in a statement. "Justice Morales remanded the defendant to a psychiatric facility until he is deemed fit to stand trial."