Woman Punched At Metro Station, Dragged Onto 210 In Unprovoked Attack

PASADENA, CA — A woman was attacked at a Metro train station in the median of the Foothill (210) Freeway in Pasadena before sunrise Wednesday, and a suspect was taken into custody.

Deputies responded around 5:40 a.m. to the Metro A Line's Allen Station where a man suspected of punching a woman multiple times in an unprovoked attack was arrested, according to the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

The woman fell to the ground and endured several more blows before the suspect pushed her onto the tracks, "dragged her across the cement freeway divider," and onto a traffic lane on the freeway, authorities said.

The suspect was later located and taken into custody at the intersection of Allen Avenue and Villa Street by Sheriff's Transit Bureau personnel without incident. He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, according to sheriff's officials.

The woman was taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger commended the transit deputies for responding quickly.

"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 in a statement.

Barger also said she expects a full report from Metro concerning security measures that will be put in place to assure safety, especially during early morning commute hours.

"Our Metro board has already taken some steps to improve public safety, including enforcing fares. But it's obvious to me that our Metro system commuters are still confronted with serious issues that cannot be ignored," Barger said.

Fellow County Supervisor Janice Hahn -- who, like Barger, sits on the Metro Board of Directors -- issued a statement saying, "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.

"Our board will need a full investigation into this incident, an accounting of where both Metro's contracted law enforcement and transit security were when this woman was attacked, and a plan to increase security during early morning commuting hours. Our trains, buses, and stations must be safe for our riders and we have to continue to implement safety reforms to get our system to that point."

City News Service