NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for a man who allegedly punched two women in Queens subway stations and yelled out racial comments.
Authorities said he has a long rap sheet of subway related crimes, and as CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, as the suspect evades police, commuters are watching their backs.
Through the subway trains in Queens lurks the man police are searching for -- 28-year-old, Sherlock Arana.
They believe he is behind a December 8, attack at the 88th Street subway station in Ozone Park, around 9 a.m.
Station agent Gopaul Pooran was on duty.
"He was checking his card, and this young girl came through the door there, and he was going out at the same time, and he just punched her in the face," Pooran said.
The 18-year-old victim told police he yelled an anti-Indian slur at her before running off. Pooran has not seen him since.
"He usually comes, and swipes cards at the Metro Card reader and he goes back outside.
Police told CBS2 Arana has 30 prior arrests; several for selling subway card swipes. That's what he was doing Thursday, around 12:30 in the afternoon at the Hillside Ave station in Jamaica when he attacked again.
Police said the man tried selling a swipe with his Metro Card to a 30-year-old woman in exchange for cash. When she said no, he yelled anti-Indian slurs, punched her in the back of the head and ran off leaving her on the floor.
"I'm sure there was a lot of people around here. There's always a lot of people around here," one straphanger said.
"It's despicable, obviously. What is there to think? How could anyone say otherwise?" Jack Walisever said.
Despicable yes, but many told CBS2 subway violence has become an unfortunate reality of their commute.
"Well, I'm in New York City, and I'm in the subway so nothing surprised me, and that's sad, but that's exactly what it is," one rider said.
The suspect is 6' tall with a skin condition similar to vitiligo on his face, and is hard to miss. He's due in court for a prior arrest on January 9.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
Police: Man Punches 2 Women, Makes Anti-Indian Remarks In Queens Subway
/ CBS New York
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for a man who allegedly punched two women in Queens subway stations and yelled out racial comments.
Authorities said he has a long rap sheet of subway related crimes, and as CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, as the suspect evades police, commuters are watching their backs.
Through the subway trains in Queens lurks the man police are searching for -- 28-year-old, Sherlock Arana.
They believe he is behind a December 8, attack at the 88th Street subway station in Ozone Park, around 9 a.m.
Station agent Gopaul Pooran was on duty.
"He was checking his card, and this young girl came through the door there, and he was going out at the same time, and he just punched her in the face," Pooran said.
The 18-year-old victim told police he yelled an anti-Indian slur at her before running off. Pooran has not seen him since.
"He usually comes, and swipes cards at the Metro Card reader and he goes back outside.
Police told CBS2 Arana has 30 prior arrests; several for selling subway card swipes. That's what he was doing Thursday, around 12:30 in the afternoon at the Hillside Ave station in Jamaica when he attacked again.
Police said the man tried selling a swipe with his Metro Card to a 30-year-old woman in exchange for cash. When she said no, he yelled anti-Indian slurs, punched her in the back of the head and ran off leaving her on the floor.
"I'm sure there was a lot of people around here. There's always a lot of people around here," one straphanger said.
"It's despicable, obviously. What is there to think? How could anyone say otherwise?" Jack Walisever said.
Despicable yes, but many told CBS2 subway violence has become an unfortunate reality of their commute.
"Well, I'm in New York City, and I'm in the subway so nothing surprised me, and that's sad, but that's exactly what it is," one rider said.
The suspect is 6' tall with a skin condition similar to vitiligo on his face, and is hard to miss. He's due in court for a prior arrest on January 9.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
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