NEW YORK – David Martin was on his way to work Friday afternoon when someone took him by surprise and pushed the longtime New Yorker off the subway platform where he boarded the train.
It was attacked a day before city and state leaders unveiled their new subway safety plan, intended to flood the transportation system with more police, cameras, and build stronger mental health facilities.
“In a second I’m on track, they pushed me really hard,” he said on the phone Sunday to our sister network NBC 4. “I’m just happy to be alive, to be honest with you.”
Martin is in a long convalescence after his body was searched at Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenue station in Bushwick just before the afternoon commute. Videos released over the weekend show his attacker charging, seemingly spontaneous, and being pushed into the crawler bed.
Police said they identified the attacker as Lamale McRae, 41, who they located and arrested on Monday. Authorities said the search flyers scattered around Times Square helped in the arrest.
“I’m in excruciating pain. It’s hard for me to get in and out of bed or go to the bathroom,” said Martin.
“It’s a traumatic event. I don’t know what the other victims did, but I don’t know how to deal with this, ”said her mother, Audrey Martin, expressing frustration after the family didn’t hear from the city.
But hours later, the 32-year-old said he got a call from Mayor Eric Adams.
“They are really trying to help me, trying to talk to me and help me in any way they can,” said Martin.
Part of that help could come from the “Cops, Cameras, Attention” plan announced Saturday by Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, aimed at curbing violence on the subway, direct or otherwise, in an attempt to quell public concerns.
Democrats have said they intend to give the green light to more than 1,000 overtime shifts each day designed specifically to increase the number of uniformed officers patrolling platforms and trains. Funding an additional 1,200 shifts would represent an additional 10,000 patrol hours each day. Its weekend announcement also included two new inpatient psychiatric facilities to help people with severe mental health problems.
“I don’t know if it will fix it, but it could be much more useful. It seems to me that police officers don’t have a crystal ball, you can’t put one in every crack in a station.” Martin said Sunday.
McRae was arrested on Monday morning and was facing charges of attempted murder, assault, reckless danger and harassment. Contact information for his attorney was not immediately known.
