A 68-year-old career criminal was arrested on Sunday for assaulting a woman in a Brooklyn subway car in a random attack. However, due to New York’s lenient bail laws, he was back on the streets the next day.
Michael Crosland was charged with assaulting a 39-year-old woman on a Q train at the Stillwell Avenue station by punching her multiple times in the right shoulder and kicking her in the stomach, according to police and a criminal complaint.
After the attack, Crosland set papers on fire inside the subway car and ignited a blaze in a platform trash can, as per the complaint.
The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the incident where Crosland began kicking and punching her and another woman on the train, causing fear and confusion.
The suspect was charged with multiple misdemeanors, including assault, attempted arson, and disorderly conduct. Despite having over 25 prior arrests, he was released with supervised release due to the charges not being bail-eligible.
The victim expressed concerns about encountering Crosland in the future and believed he should be in prison. She mentioned his history of drug-related arrests and previous assault charges.
