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All Charges Dropped Against 8-Ball Jacket Subway Slapper
By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 12, 2014
Modified Nov 13, 2014
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 12, 2014
Modified Nov 13, 2014
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This weekend, four people were arrested after a violent, slappy brawl aboard an F train. The incident, which happened near the West Fourth Street station shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday, reached its nadir when a man in an 8-ball jacket loudly slapped a woman who had been yelling and hitting him, sparking a wild melee. Now, the charges against Jorge Pena, the 25-year-old 8-ball jacket wearer, have been dropped entirely.
The incident was caught on video and disseminated widely around the Internet:
Initially, Pena was charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct in the incident. He spent four nights in jail after the fight, but his lawyer says charges were dropped after authorities determined he was acting in self-defense. "This time the system worked," attorney Cary London told the Post. "Thank God for smartphones because the DA’s office was able to have all of the information in front of them at an early stage to show that our client did nothing wrong and acted in self-defense."
London says that allegedly drunk straphanger Danay Howard had been making fun of Pena's jacket and his slight speech impediment when she started hitting him in the face with her 6-inch stiletto. "He’s not an aggressive guy. He's like Andre the Giant," London said about his client, adding that he plans to press charges against Campbell this week.
Howard, 21, has been charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct. Kevin Gil, 21, was also charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct, and Shanuique Campbell, a 21-year-old female, was charged with felony assault and disorderly conduct.
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8-ball jackets
fights
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Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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