Career criminal busted with box cutter in NYC subway crime — days after similar arrest: sources

A career criminal with more than a dozen prior arrests was busted early Friday for flashing a box cutter during an attempted robbery on a Lower Manhattan train — just days after he was cut loose following a similar crime on the rails, sources and prosecutors said.

Rakeem Washington, 38, was nabbed just before 3 a.m. Friday for flashing a box cutter at a 56-year-old man on board a southbound No. 4 train and snarling “Give me your money,” law enforcement sources said. 

When the victim refused to fork over any dough, Washington allegedly grabbed him by the coat, sparking an argument, sources said.

The conductor called for police and Washington was arrested as soon as the victim pointed him out, cops and sources said. 

Washington was previously cuffed on Monday for allegedly snatching another rider’s phone on board a No. 6 train in Lower Manhattan heading uptown, sources said. 

He initially asked the 23-year-old commuter for $200, and grabbed the phone when he refused, according to the sources. 

When the victim tried to grab the phone back, Washington threatened to kill him, the sources said.

He was charged with third-degree robbery and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, according to a criminal complaint. 

Those charges are not bail-eligible, and Washington was granted supervised release, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. 

The NYPD’s Transit Bureau condemned Washington’s release — which allowed him to get back on the streets and commit yet another crime — in a sharply worded Instagram post. 

“Make no mistake about it, your cops are doing their job!” authorities wrote in the post. “Now it’s up to the rest of the criminal justice system to do theirs.

“On Monday, Transit cops arrested a 38-year-old career criminal after he forcibly robbed a straphanger of his cellphone in Manhattan. He was released without bail.”

“Today, just 4 days later, this same perp was arrested AGAIN by Transit cops — this time for attempting to rob another subway rider at knifepoint in Manhattan,” the online posting continued. “New Yorkers deserve better.”

Washington’s arrest history in the Big Apple dates back to 2005, for raps including assault, robbery, criminal possession of a controlled substance and fare evasion, sources said.

He has a prior conviction out of Nassau County from 2006 for attempted robbery, robbery and aggravated harassment, according to online records. 

His mental health history in the city includes a 2019 case in which he suffered from hallucinations that his face and body were on fire, sources said. 

In 2021, Washington’s mother claimed her son – who suffers from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and is a K2 user – was acting erratically and not taking his medications, according to the sources.

Washington’s address, provided by cops, is the Manhattan Psychiatric Center on Ward’s Island.