Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD's Late Night Seat Hog Sting Snares 4'2" Disabled Man
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 22, 2010
Modified Jul 22, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 22, 2010
Modified Jul 22, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
It's no secret that the NYPD has been cracking down on tired (mostly male!) subway riders who put their feet up while traveling in semi-deserted trains. The cops routinely enter a subway car, order anybody with their feet up (or a bag on an unoccupied seat) to step out and get a summons. So it's shouldn't come as much surprise that one Frank Caldwell was recently on the receiving end of this sting, while riding the F train home. And it's also unsurprising that cops dragged him off the train even though he's 4'2" and suffers from a bone ailment. Dem's the rules! But the cop who wrote the ticket actually seemed to feel a little twinge of shame, and that's a shocker.
Caldwell, 43, was ordered off the train at the Jay Street station, and a search on his name revealed four outstanding warrants for open containers of alcohol in public. But "I wasn't even drunk!" Caldwell told the Post as he left Brooklyn court yesterday. "They just needed to make an arrest. I've got a disability in my legs and I just wanted to lie down. One of the officers told me later, 'If my supervisor weren't around, I would have just tapped you on the foot.'" Caldwell agreed to an ACD, so the charges will be dropped if he stays out of trouble for six months. Until then, he's just going to have to let his little feet dangle.
Tagged
MTA
nyc transit
nypd
subway
subway etiquette
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey
More than 122,000 cases are being recalled over undeclared food dyes.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 5, 2026 at 4:36 p.m. ET
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
News
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYPD detective forced to retire after false statements in Brooklyn investigation
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani faces pressure to forge ahead with plan to fix polluting South Bronx market
By
Elizabeth Kim
Dominican man who shot border patrol officer in NYC sentenced to 15 years in prison
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .