A man named Diego Morales, with 16 prior arrests, menaced two women on a Manhattan subway train by pulling one of them by the hair. When a 50-year-old bystander stepped in to stop him, Morales threatened to cut him with a box cutter. The victim waited for Morales to turn his back and shoved him out of the train when the doors opened at the 103rd Street station, causing him to fall and hit his face on the ground. The Samaritan held Morales down until the police arrived, who then arrested him for menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. Morales was also hospitalized for a cut on his face.
Morales has a history of arrests, including charges for criminal possession of a weapon, menacing a police officer, and criminal trespass. In a prior incident on the Upper West Side, he swung a box cutter at a victim who he believed was taking a photo of him. In November 2022, Morales allegedly harassed individuals on the street and pulled a knife on a man who told him to back off. He also attempted to strike a police officer with a metal wrench after being kicked out of a subway station for disorderly behavior in 2019 and was arrested for grand larceny in 2018.
In a 2017 incident, Morales snatched a phone out of a woman’s hand and choked her with her scarf when he became jealous of her talking to her friends. He was arrested in 2016 for criminal possession of a knife. These incidents highlight his pattern of violent and criminal behavior. This latest crime occurred amidst a series of violent attacks on the transit system, including a deadly shooting on a crowded train in Brooklyn and an innocent straphanger being shoved in front of a train in Harlem by a man with a history of mental illness.
The bystander who intervened in the subway incident acted quickly to protect the women and prevent further harm from Morales. His courageous actions in confronting Morales and then physically restraining him until the police arrived prevented the situation from escalating even further. The bystander’s intervention likely saved Morales’ victims from potential harm and danger. His bravery and quick thinking in a dangerous and unpredictable situation demonstrate the importance of standing up against violence and protecting others in need.
This incident sheds light on the need for increased security and vigilance in public transportation to ensure the safety of passengers and prevent dangerous individuals like Morales from causing harm. It also highlights the importance of community involvement in addressing and preventing crime. By stepping in when witnessing wrongdoing and assisting those in need, individuals can help create a safer environment for everyone. The actions of the bystander in this incident serve as an example of the positive impact that ordinary citizens can have in promoting safety and security in their communities.
