UPDATE: A 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly slashing another man in a Brooklyn subway station, according to NYPD officials. The incident occurred at approximately 1 p.m. on December 25, 2023, at the 53rd Street subway station on the R line in Sunset Park.
Police responded to a distress call regarding an assault and discovered a 33-year-old man suffering from multiple cuts across his body. Emergency medical personnel rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he is currently in stable condition.
Authorities identified the suspect as Caleb Polidore, a resident of Crown Heights, who was taken into custody at the scene. He now faces multiple charges, including assault, weapons possession, menacing, and harassment. The altercation reportedly stemmed from a dispute between Polidore and the victim near the turnstiles, and officials believe it involved a box cutter.
While felony assaults in the 72nd Precinct, which encompasses Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace, have decreased by approximately 10% compared to last year, transit-related crimes in the precinct have surged by 31%, with over 30 incidents reported this year alone.
Citywide, transit crime has seen a slight decline of nearly 5% year over year, although felony assaults remain consistent. Remarkably, authorities assert that 2025 is on track to be the safest year for the transit system since 2009, excluding the early pandemic period when ridership was significantly low.
Officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation. As community safety remains a pressing concern, this incident emphasizes the ongoing challenges faced within the transit system.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as authorities work to uncover further details.
