Subway Platform Rape Victim Speaks Out

Wow,

I don't know why my post was not posted. I don't think I put anything offensive in it.

Wow,

I don't know why my post was not posted. I don't think I put anything offensive in it.

I would not want to be the workers who did nothing - everyone knows who they are and their lives are over due to their callous coldhearted inhuman inaction. But they are still lucky - if that was my daughter they would be dead, no lawsuit needed.

I feel tremendous sympathy for Ms. Besedin, and while I will never be able to understand the tremendous pain she has suffered, I would like to share my own experience as a way of shedding more light on just how complicit the MTA is in the crimes committed on its premises on a daily basis.

A year ago I was attacked at a station in Astoria. The three assailants initially attempted to corner me in one of the walkways leading to the mezzanine of the elevated station, but I was able to successfully break away. I instinctively ran to the mezzanine, knowing that with the token booth attendant as witness the attackers would flee.

I banged on the glass, and shouted to the MTA employee that I had just been attacked and pleaded that he call the police. The attackers looked around the corner and, comforted by the lack of any reaction from the attendant, proceeded into the mezzanine, and in full view of the MTA worker surrounded me and continued the attack. They only fled after literally punching the right lens of my glasses into my eye socket, causing massive bleeding that yes, fountained out of my face and sprayed them, the booth, and the floor of the station. One of the last things I remember seeing was the token booth attendant still sitting in his seat, staring at me as I bled all over the glass that separated me from him.

In some ways I was lucky. The glass just missed my eye, so while I have great scaring beneath my eye, and required ten stitches to put my face back together, I can see as well as I could before the attack. My nose was broken, and is still crooked after having been re-set twice. I still have an obstructed nasal passage, and the bone structure on the right side of my face is damaged beyond repair.

Did I expect the MTA employee to enter the fray and fight off the bad guys? No - that little man would have struggled to swat a fly. What I did expect was for him to get out of his chair, show that he was a witness to the crime, and announce to the attackers that the police was notified and on its way. Instead, his passive behavior served to encourage the attackers by showing them that even the one person whose job it is to care does not give a damn. I could see the realization on their faces as they followed me into the mezzanine that they could proceed with their attack with impunity, and they did. I absolutely blame the token booth attendant for allowing the crime to proceed to the point that it did.

And the kicker of the story: when the police eventually arrived at the station, the man stepped out of the booth, approached the officer who took my statement, and shamelessly asked him what happened because HE had to file a report to the MTA! In a follow-up interview with the investigating officer the attendant stated that he would not be able to identify any of the three attackers, and refused to look at mug shots of suspects.

So we have hundreds, if not thousands, of MTA employees who perform absolutely no function. They certainly no longer sell tokens, since these were phased out. Most also do not sell metrocards, as all stations have machines that perform this task. Now we discover that they are also not reliable as witnesses (never mind providers of security). I say replace them all with video cameras and emergency buttons. We'll save enough money to keep the fares where they are, and end up with a safer system in the bargain.

I feel tremendous sympathy for Ms. Besedin, and while I will never be able to understand the tremendous pain she has suffered, I would like to share my own experience as a way of shedding more light on just how complicit the MTA is in the crimes committed on its premises on a daily basis.

A year ago I was attacked at a station in Astoria. The three assailants initially attempted to corner me in one of the walkways leading to the mezzanine of the elevated station, but I was able to successfully break away. I instinctively ran to the mezzanine, knowing that with the token booth attendant as witness the attackers would flee.

I banged on the glass, and shouted to the MTA employee that I had just been attacked and pleaded that he call the police. The attackers looked around the corner and, comforted by the lack of any reaction from the attendant, proceeded into the mezzanine, and in full view of the MTA worker surrounded me and continued the attack. They only fled after literally punching the right lens of my glasses into my eye socket, causing massive bleeding that yes, fountained out of my face and sprayed them, the booth, and the floor of the station. One of the last things I remember seeing was the token booth attendant still sitting in his seat, staring at me as I bled all over the glass that separated me from him.

In some ways I was lucky. The glass just missed my eye, so while I have great scaring beneath my eye, and required ten stitches to put my face back together, I can see as well as I could before the attack. My nose was broken, and is still crooked after having been re-set twice. I still have an obstructed nasal passage, and the bone structure on the right side of my face is damaged beyond repair.

Did I expect the MTA employee to enter the fray and fight off the bad guys? No - that little man would have struggled to swat a fly. What I did expect was for him to get out of his chair, show that he was a witness to the crime, and announce to the attackers that the police was notified and on its way. Instead, his passive behavior served to encourage the attackers by showing them that even the one person whose job it is to care does not give a damn. I could see the realization on their faces as they followed me into the mezzanine that they could proceed with their attack with impunity, and they did. I absolutely blame the token booth attendant for allowing the crime to proceed to the point that it did.

And the kicker of the story: when the police eventually arrived at the station, the man stepped out of the booth, approached the officer who took my statement, and shamelessly asked him what happened because HE had to file a report to the MTA! In a follow-up interview with the investigating officer the attendant stated that he would not be able to identify any of the three attackers, and refused to look at mug shots of suspects.

So we have hundreds, if not thousands, of MTA employees who perform absolutely no function. They certainly no longer sell tokens, since these were phased out. Most also do not sell metrocards, as all stations have machines that perform this task. Now we discover that they are also not reliable as witnesses (never mind providers of security). I say replace them all with video cameras and emergency buttons. We'll save enough money to keep the fares where they are, and end up with a safer system in the bargain.

Let's be clear as to who is responsible for this terrible act. It is the rapist! He knew what he was doing by attacking someone at that time of morning. He knew that there would be no one to stop him.

I don't know how she can excuse his actions and accuse the subway workers. They acted quickly by calling the police. They did know if the attacker had a gun or accomplices. They are not required, nor are they paid, to put their lives on the line. If someone had personally intervened, maybe she would have been saved and maybe not. Who can say? We all rightly want justice when we are victimized. However, it is not fair to hold one responsible for another's crime.

The judge ruled correctly.

That is complete BS. I can't believe how complacent and cowardly society as a whole has become. To stand there and watch a woman being raped and not having the visceral instinct to intervene even if you may get hurt is foreign to my line of thinking and quite frankly it goes against nature. Western society has become so pussified and pacified to the point of idiots like you actually condoning and rationalizing the cowardice.

This same way of thinking is exactly why the rapist felt totally comfortable doing this in front of others. This way of thinking and behavior actually causes more crime.

Let's not change the story. The workers did not stand there and watch her being raped. They called the police. The rapist did not attack her in front of others. Remember, he pulled her down into the isolated station.

Another scenario: A building is on fire. There are people inside screaming for help. The fire department has been called. There are people watching and waiting for the police. They do not go in because of the obvious danger. Are they to be held responsible if someone inside the building loses their life before the firefighters arrive?

On another note, is it possible for you to express yourself without resorting to vulgar language. The lack of decency in all aspects of our lives (speech & action) contributes to violent behavior. It also does not add any weight to an argument.

The fault lies with the rapist and the rapist alone. Blaming others for this crime is horrible. These are unarmed workers and they are told what to do in a crime situation and they did just that. They didn't know if the man was armed and they do NOT have to risk their lives to stop a crime. It would have been nice if they did... but legally they are not required to and the judge made the right decision.

Thankfully I live in a state that allows us to carry firearms with a permit... and I do. If that had happened here and I saw a woman being raped the only person anyone would need to call is the coroner because that would be one DEAD rapist!

--"If that had happened here and I saw a woman being raped, the only person anyone would need to call is the coroner, because that would be one DEAD rapist!"--

You're absolutely right! This happened solely due to MORONIC gun lows in New York! Our Mayor & Governor are criminals themselves, they have blood of innocent people on their hands because they took away out rights to self defense!

They just desided, that for them it's easier to give you a body bag, than to deal with all that conceal carry licensing for law abiding New Yorkers! Body bag coast less anyway, plus they hypocritically stating that "they took guns from the streets". What a lairs, all they did is they took our guns away alone with our rights to defense ourselves! Crooks have all the guns they need!

And main crook Michael Bloomberg even violated Constitution and wants to be re-elected THIRD time! Like Hugo Chavez. Great!

I really hope Maria is motivated enough to sue the State to overturn existing gun law called "may issue license" into "shall issue license", just like most other states have. I wish Maria will take them to the Supreme Court and help to everybody by changing that moronic law we have in NY!

I'd say her chances to win the case are 90%! That high! It had happened in Texas in 1993, one woman overturn their "carry" law and since then it's all different there... it took just one angry woman to do the job!

God Bless America.

Maria, if you read this, please contact the NRA (National Rifle Association). They will give you much better lawyer for free, and please start law suit against of NY State and City for making impossible to obtain a 'conceal carry pistol permit' for your self defense and thus resulting in this horrible accident!

Please contact NRA, they'll explain you everything. Please just do it for all others who is defenseless and can't get a pistol permit due to draconian New York laws!

There is a blood on Bloomberg's hands for leaving all of us helpless in the front of an attacker! Thanks Michael Bloomberg, hope you'll lose your election! You don't deserve to be a Mayor of the greatest city in the World. Shame on you Mike for what had happened to this young woman.

Two questions... was the rapist caught and was he black?

Five Foot Mohawk took the words right out of my mouth. There are so many ways to act in a way that prevents violence without getting in the middle of it. The MTA has failing policies and systems, that's for sure, but the guys who hid in their booths doing nothing to scare the attacker off are the worst part of this. The MTAs system relies on people doing their best, and these two did not.

I wouldn't have a chance to think twice about it. Call me stupid but my natural instinct doesn't allow me a chance to think twice about things in an emergency. In the last 6 years I have witnessed three women being abused by their boyfriends. Once I told the guy off on the subway and threatened to have the police waiting at the next station. Another time I was in a car and I saw a guy punch his girlfriend in the face near the LIRR train station and I made my friend follow the car while I was on the phone with police so they knew exactly where to find them. Most recently I was walking down the street in my neighborhood and saw my 60 something year old neighbor grab his wife by the hair, throw her to the ground and start kicking her right in front of his house. I stood in front of their house until the police came cursing the guy out.

Call me stupid all you want but I was raised by a mom who was crazy with having me do fire drills and my dad is an EMT. If I'm the only one around who can help the fact that I'm 4foot 11 and female does not stop me.

I know if the shoe was on the other foot I would want someone to help me.

John Koort lives in Flushing, NY with an easily googleable address and phone number, just sayin.

MTA: useless bastards!

This shit makes me furious. Good for her for going public. What kind of coward doesn't interfere in a situation like this?

" Not to worry, Her Lawyer will "Retool" the case and present it back to the court and she'll never have to work another day in her life !"

Deservedly.

Isn't there a law that makes it an automatic felony to assault a transit worker? If that's the case then the transit workers should have to do what is reasonable to prevent assaults on passengers.

If a passenger on the train that came into the station saw what was going on they should have pulled the emergency cord. Do they still have them in trains? That way the conductor at least would have to deal with the situation with a little more attention than he did.

It's not exactly like he witnessed someone taking a dump off the edge of the platform.

I have been able to dissuade a couple of violent crimes simply by walking up to the situation (but out of reach) so that the perpetrator had to think about both me and his potential victim -- it changed the odds. This would not work in every situation, but it might be worth a try.

However, the MTA cannot tell its employees to go out and fight criminals. They would get sued into the ground for that. However, there should be a way for the employees or passers-by to notify the police directly and quickly. There used to be police call boxes analogous to fire alarms; what happened to them?

Right, but what about shouting or using a PA to say "I'm calling the police! LEAVE!" Sure, maybe the attacker wouldn't be scared off, but at least the victim could feel like her screams were being heard.

Sadly, That is their protocol when dealing with disputes within the system . The Booth clerk did the right thing by calling it in to the command center . So did the Conductor for that matter ! The Mta needs to change their "Protocol" and have employees alert Emergency services directly . Not to worry, Her Lawyer will "Retool" the case and present it back to the court and she'll never have to work another day in her life !

And, for those interested in our fiscal plight, fare battle, etc,

in 2007 JJ Koort of the NYCTA had a base salary of $49670, not including bennies and overtime.

The H Cruzs of the NYCTA had bases from 57 to 78K,

without o/t, bennies.

Go get 'em, Maria! Such a brave woman.

Have to admire the victim for going public with her story. Aside from appeal issues, is likely major pissed and maybe trying to help others avoid her plight. Has more intestinal fortitude than the conductor & booth clerk combined. I will leave out the part about hope for the cond/clerk's female family members. No person should ever have to go thru such things. Except maybe the cond & clerk. Let's see. The MTA says we have these two knuckleheads, salaries, bennies and all, who are there because we need them for our safety. Yet all they can do is 'call central". What a waste. Could the conductor have announced: "We are being held at the station due to a female customer being assaulted on stairway two"? Same for the "Clerk". Don't know about others, but I'm sure that at 3AM there's be a few guys with some beer balls who would try to help. Or, D-g forbid, a bunch of militant feminists coming from an "Empowering thru Swordplay" workshop and might not take so kindly to such a spectacle. If any "street artists" have access, might want to get some pics of the condutor/clerk & create a "FACE OF THE MTA" poster campaign. No paints, etchings, or adhesives please. Just a nice way of letting the customers know who is working their line to ensure their safety.

That poor girl has experienced something no one should have to endure and at the same time has lost faith in her fellow man. Here's a thought, suppose the MTA guys knew the guy, another employee, maybe someone who paid them off... Paranoid? Yes. Impossible? No.

People saying she should have taken a cab (some saying at the price of two drinks). When you hitch a cab from Manhattan to Queens/Brooklyn you better get inside the cab and then tell the cabbie where to go - because if he hears where, with you still outside, he would just drive off, as they do not want one way trips to suburbs. Sometimes you get into a cab, tell the address and the driver would say "I am sorry I just realized my shift is over" and ask you out of the cab. This girl was going from Brooklyn to Queens. I see the only way for her to get a ride that late at night would be car service. She may have judged against it to save some money ($50?).

Now to the crime itself and MTA involvement. I actually believe if there was NO MTA cowards in sight, she might have fought the swine off by herself, kicking, screaming and being aggressive. But seeing the MTA low life inhuman pigs, the girl thought she would be saved any minute and did not go full out with her defense. I know this sounds stupid, but instinctively we do that, we do not release our full defensive potential when we think the situation is going to fix itself by outside forces any minute.

This was absolutely how I felt when I was attacked. I actually broke away from the three assailants that tried to corner me in a passageway. I'm a man, so the motive was most likely whatever was in my pockets, but getting jumped is never pleasant. So I tore myself away, and instinctively ran to the token booth for help. Had I known there is no one there to go to, I would have ran across the station to another exit and onto the street. I actually believed at the time that the safest course of action was to run to the mezzanine area where an MTA employee could serve as a witness and call for the police. I was sorely disappointed. I've written more on this lower down. The behavior of MTA employees - their mere presence, serving as an illusion of safety - is a travesty.

I don't believe that for a second.

It seems pretty clear this was never intended to be a robbery. I think a victim who knows they're going to be seriously assaulted goes all out regardless of who is near.

Great advice. I hope you get a chance in the near future to see if your system works first hand.

Let us know how you make out.

In response to eliminating the conductors and toll booth clerks to save money and all the waste associated with them. A few well placed cameras and a 5% raise for the motorman will replace many overpaid useless idiots in those positions.

That G train is one nasty trip, night or day.

There's an novel argument. I wonder if her lawyer dredged that one up at trial, that the MTA workers gave her false hope or else she would have maybe kicked the guy's ass. If she was waiting for the token booth clerk to come out and go all Charles Bronson on the guy then she was seriously deluded.

The putative rescuer has to take a clear affirmative step to assume responsibility for the victim's well-being, something that is unequivocally intended by the putative rescuer to be relied upon by the victim. You don't see that here.

If the stations agents are unable or unwilling to do something when a dangerous situation arises, whether it is inside their train, or inside their station, then they are truly useless. Fire every last one of them, install a state of the art alert and security system, use the additional funds (this would never happen with the corrupt MTA) to have additional officers on patrol in stations either in uniform or under cover.

Couple things.

1. I don't understand this fascination with the 70s and 80s. Why do you people hold up a shithole as the standard against which all decades should be judged? We should aspire to more.

2. Judging by the fact that this rape was carried out in plain view of both the station agent and the conductor, it's clear that the rapist wasn't intimidated by being seen. Physical action would have been necessary.

What a brave woman she is for coming forward to tell her story. Too bad Harmodio Cruz and John Koort were not as brave and were "just doing their jobs," like good union workers.

I also wonder if there were some men on that train that could have gotten off and helped her. Couldn't a group of guys have ganged up on him and held him down until the police got there?

I have a sick feeling that Cruz and Koort enjoyed watching her get attacked. There's no other explanation. I hope no woman - or man - in their lives has to live through rape. It never leaves you.

Also, I'm going to use this as an opportunity to promote Right Rides. They offer women and transgenders free rides home on Saturday nights to many neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

http://www.rightrides.org/index.php

On other nights, ladies, please take a cab when possible, use mace, or travel in packs. Men should meet their women at their subway stop - maybe this attack wouldn't have happened if Maria's boyfriend was waiting at the train station.

Both MTA jobs can become automated at less cost to everyone leaving a few dollars extra for more surveilance cameras.

The station agent should have called the POLICE and then maybe he could have triggered some kind of alarm or shouted through the PA (if it worked) that police were coming now.

The train conductor should have remained in the station to at least be a witness. He could have blown his loud as shit horn a few times maybe to scare the perp away. He could have alerted passengers of what was going on and maybe some vigilante types would have jumped off to help (but at that time of night who knows)

each of these guys were cowards, but they were not legally required to physically intervene. The MTA should be held responsible if it SOP to call MTA command and not directly call the police.

The station agent should have ... triggered some kind of alarm

I had the same thought. It boggles the mind that there's no loud, unmistakeable alarm to alert people to an emergency inside a subway station. There have to be times when they need to quickly evacuate a station.

Directly call police how? With their super duper concrete-penetrating cell phones?

We had the blue "rape lights" all around my college campus, with Public Safety reporting a superquick response time. Install those in the subway! Use some kind of ink or camera to deter misuse! I'd rather know we're safe than know how long we're waiting for a train.

the rapist, and the two mta scumbags will die slow painful deaths and will rot in hell..

but, after giving this some thought, I believe the judge made the right decision from a legal standpoint.

it could create a prettly slipperly slope if judgemant was in favor of the victim...whenever a crime happens, there would be less emphasis on punishing the criminal, and more emphasis on 3rd parties w/ deep pockets who can somehow be negligent, or didn do enough to stop/prevent the crime..if a rape happens in the park, should the parks department get sued? if some whack job shoots me inside of a bank, should i sue the bank? Was the teller not heroic enough to intervene?

slipprey.slope

sucks. life sucks.

I'd bet that people have sued banks before for getting shot inside a bank.

The REAL slippery slope isn't how it affects a place of business but an individual who witnesses a crime no matter where they are. Does anyone want to be sued for not taking physical action to prevent a crime in progress? Do you want to be held liable for only calling the cops instead of risking your life?

The only way to get a fast response is to tell them a cop is being raped. There should be some sort of priority alert system that would insure a 5 minute or less response. The agent in the booth should have gone out and screamed his lungs out. The motorman should have opened the doors and started yelling as well. Perhaps there was a cop aboard or some citizen that could handle this type of situation. This is that Kitty Genovese tragedy once more. I think the MTA should have compensated her because they basically did nothing and she had paid her fare.

if you said "a cop is being raped" and they responded quickly, it's more likely you'd be jailed and fined for perpetuating a lie.

I was being facetious. My real point is that the two MTA employees either cowered or weren't trained properly. I don't know how long the incident took but from beginning to end there should have been a better response.

So, what happens when someone jumps the turnstiles? Do they leave the booth? Maybe I should just jump them now all the time because apparently the MTA people shouldn't do anything about it.... The MTA workers are worthless.

"So, what happens when someone jumps the turnstiles? Do they leave the booth?"

No. They have no authority to enforce that or any other law. I've seen it happen a couple of times, without any reaction at all from the booth worker.

Pretty much what I would expect from MTA union workers. EVERY story you EVER read about someone performing a heroic act in the subway, it is always one of your fellow passengers coming to the rescue.

Despicable cowards.

Its horrible story but the blame lies with the Rapist - Suing the MTA for millions of dollars is just a way to get million dollars for suffering that was caused by someone else.

The MTA employees are just joe schmoos without guns...and most joe schmoos without guns despite what they say after the fact will not put themselves in harms way for you. Thats modern life. Thats what we're conditioned for. You call someone else when we see a crime taking place. If you want people to help you when a crime is taking place, then let upstanding citizens carry hand guns. Otherwise this is how society works - people help you by calling other people who have guns.

As an unwilling financial backer of the MTA, I approve this lawsuit.

The MTA employees are just joe schmoos without guns...and most joe schmoos without guns despite what they say after the fact will not put themselves in harms way for you. Thats modern life. Thats what we're conditioned for. You call someone else when we see a crime taking place.

They aren't just joe schmoos. As employees of the transit system they have a special obligation to assist passengers in crisis situations.

oh please. was she being raped by the incredible hulk? someone who could destroy an subway train with a swing of his fist?

Harmodio Cruz and John Koort are great MTA agents, but shitty people. i hope to come across them in my subterranian travels, that i might have the chance to spit in their faces.

calling the command post ain't shit. they should have done SOMETHING. period. are they legally obligated? no. but morally, yes.

fucking cowards.

On the flip side, there was that kid who worked at a McDonald's in Arkansas. He saw a girl getting slapped around so he grabbed the attacker and dragged him outside. The attacker pulled a gun and seriously wounded the kid. Last I heard, McDonald's refused to cover the kid's ongoing medical bills because he was not following employee protocol when he personally intervened. (Although the owner of that franchise said he would pay for the costs if McDonald's wouldn't.) There's not an awful lot of incentive to be a hero and I can't say that I can really blame somebody for not risking their lives. Some people just aren't made to be heroes.

If the train conductor had stayed in the station, i'm sure there were some strapping subway riders ready to save the day. Doesn't just have to be the dispatcher, the train staying there, passengers getting a good look at this guy's face may have scared him off...of her.

She IS a victim and I hope she gets through this. Whoever raped her should rot in hell.

BUT and there always is one....

I'm a big beefy guy and I would never dream of being on any of the "G"?!?! trains or their platforms after 10pm.

That subway line has got to be one of the most desolate, least active and reliable in the the system.

and yeah, before the trolls chime in.

Who would want to rape your big beefy fat ass?



Exactly, even I couldn't pay some cro-magnon to rape my ass so it would absolutely be on a CAB going home @ 3am.

If you can't cough up the extra price of two cocktails for a cab, then maybe you should rethink partying a bit. It's a percentage game, she took a risk and it failed horribly.



I would never depend on or account on anyone but ME ever.

As for the MTA guy,

to blame someone for not rescuing her and because he didn't go above and beyond (which would have noble and heroic) the call of duty is ridiculous.

BOTH MTA WORKERS WERE COWARDS.

But does she deserve millions, hell no.

Shit like this went down daily in the 70's and 80's. We don't live in Disney World, it's called an urban jungle. Be as accountable for your own safety as possible.

pfft....3am?! you're crazy

Sure blame the victim-its her fault. MTA provides a service enter at your own risk.

Of course your hindsight is 20-20, and I'm sure Maria will now always cab it late at night, but you shouldn't be fearing for your life while taking the train.

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"

There were no good men there,to prevent evil. That was the problem.

And these losers want a fare hike?

Welcome to the common law, where there's no duty to rescue.

But... there must be some argument that the MTA has responsibility for the safety of its patrons; after all MTA invites the public into its facilities, and MTA certainly creates the impression - by having the station agents who are supposed to ensure safety, ditto the conductors, as alluded to above - that keep us safe, they will.

What a terrible thing to happen to anyone.

I hate the MTA

Wish there was a way we could let the MTA know how we feel

A subway pulled into the station, but even though conductor Harmodio Cruz saw her, he called command and let his train continue through the station.

This part fucking kills me every time.

"According to my collective agreement, I'm supposed to notify the dispatcher of a crime in progress, slide my window closed, and proceed out of the station. You want me to help out? Show me the double-time and Hazard Pay, honey!"

Poor girl...this story hurts my heart.

Very brave of her to come out this way and publicize this unbelievable miscarriage of justice. We need to know the names and faces of those MTA stooges who stood idly by as the rape occurred.I don't care what the 'protocol' was, they are the real crimminals here.

i hope she goes to the supreme court with this one.

Anyone remember when the MTA floated the idea of phasing out most token booths and going fully automated? The tollbooth workers howled that riders wouldn't be as safe. What a joke.

That's what I didn't get: Apparently the station agent (and MTA) said that station agents are supposed to stay in their booths during a situation like this. But what about the station agents who are assigned to float outside of the booth? If something like this happened under their watch, would they just flee into their booth or would they try at least shouting at the attacker.

ha!

Next time I see someone beating an MTA employee senseless, I'll make sure to break out the popcorn.

Good one! But you should call the cops before breaking out the popcorn. When they arrive, you'll know it's time for a bathroom break.

Ah, but one would have to actually WAKE UP the MTA token clerk in order to do so.

Unfucking real. I thought that part of my fare was to ensure my safety while using the system.