Deputies arrested a man on suspicion of assaulting a woman at a Metro station in Pasadena on Wednesday morning, at one point pushing her on the tracks and dragging her to the 210 Freeway.
The woman got inside a train after the attack, according to Deputy Kari Mercer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Transit Services Bureau. The victim was hospitalized and was stable, Mercer added.
The attack, which Mercer called unprovoked, happened at the Allen station for the A Line located at 395 N. Allen Ave.
Deputies received a call at 5:43 a.m. about a man assaulting a woman on the station platform, she said.
“He dragged her and pushed her on the tracks. He continued to assault her and dragged her to the freeway,” Mercer said.
The woman managed to get away and headed to the platform.
“Deputies spoke to her inside of a train where the conductor opened the doors for her until our deputies arrived on scene,” Mercer said.
The man was found north of the platform in an intersection and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, she said. The Sheriff’s Department has not yet released his name, age and city of residence.
Metro officials thanked the Sheriff’s Department for swiftly arresting the suspect.
“Metro wishes the woman a speedy and full recovery,” according to a statement from the agency.
“The details of the attack against a woman early this morning at the Allen Station in Pasadena are disturbing and I am grateful that the victim is recovering and that the suspect is in custody,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said.
Hahn, who is also chair of the Metro board of directors, said the board will need a full investigation, an accounting of where both Metro’s contracted law enforcement and transit security were when the woman was attacked, and a plan to increase security during early morning commuting hours.
“I am outraged to hear of yet another attack on our Metro system,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said.
“This incident is a perfect example of why we need to urgently address safety issues, not only on the Metro train system, but also at stations,” Barger said.
She expects a report from Metro on what security measures will be put in place to increase security, especially during early morning commute hours.
Related Articles
‘Bob’s Burgers’ actor pleads guilty to interfering with police during Jan. 6 attack
Homeless man suspected of trying to rob one woman, drown another on Santa Monica Beach
Woman left in coma by Venice Canals attack is taken off life support, murder charge added
Glendale police officer charged with assaulting juvenile shoplifting suspect
Beating of 80-year-old Elks Lodge member roils Redondo Beach club
