Attacker Charged with Attempted Murder

The man arrested for repeatedly stabbing a Conductor in the Bronx on Easter Sunday has been charged with attempted murder, TWU Local 100 has learned.

Initial press reports after the attack said suspect Walter Rivera was arrested for assault and possessing a weapon.

But a police complaint that was signed late Sunday night charged Rivera with the more severe attempted murder charge, along with felony assault and weapons possession.

Prosecutors from Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark’s office asked a judge on Thursday to impose $150,000 bail on Rivera – and the judge agreed. Rivera remains in custody in a hospital psychiatric ward where he was taken for evaluation after his arrest.

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano met with DA Clark earlier this year and urged her to aggressively prosecute criminals who attack transit workers.

“This was a horrific, unprovoked attack,” Utano said. “I’m glad to see that the police and prosecutors appear to be taking this case extremely seriously, as they should.”

Clark had her first Town Hall meeting since her election in the Bronx Wednesday night. Conductor-Tower Chair Raul Lugo and other elected RTO officers asked about the case and demonstrated Local 100’s intense interest in it.

“We need to send a clear message that if you assault a NYC Transit worker you will get caught and face the consequences,” RTO Vice President Eric Loegel said. “We recognize there are underlying social issues plaguing our city and we need to fix them. But in the meantime, frontline transit workers can not be victimized just for doing their jobs.”

Conductor Denaul Jenkins was waiting for his train at 149thSt.-Grand Concourse hub when attacked. He is now at home recuperating from his injuries.