Witnesses: NJ Transit conductor punched in the nose in ‘fare dispute’

🚨NJ Transit conductor assaulted during fare dispute

🚨Witnesses say passenger punched conductor; second crew member also hurt

🚨None of the 150 passengers on board the North Jersey Coast Line train were injured

BRADLEY BEACH — An NJ Transit conductor was assaulted on a North Jersey Coast Line train Friday afternoon angering NJ Transit's CEO who vowed justice for the employee.

NJ Transit says a train with about 150 passengers on board was headed from Long Branch to Bay Head when it was forced to stop at the Bradley Beach station after a conductor became involved in a "fare dispute" with a man on board.

The conductor was initially treated by first responders and the taken to a hospital. A second conductor received minor injuries, according to the agency. Witnesses say the conductor was punched in the nose by a young passenger who refused to buy a ticket, witnesses said.

NJ Transit police later identified the suspect as Xavier Dennis, 19, of Long Branch. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of theft of service and trespassing.

The train did not finish its run and was canceled. Many of the stranded passengers called for ride shares to complete their trip to Ocean County.

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'Assaults on our employees are unacceptable'

NJ Transit CEO and President Kris Kolluri promised legal justice in this case and an incident in Deptford where a bus driver was hit in the face by a passenger in West Deptford who didn’t want to get off.

After the bus stopped at the Depford Mall the driver tried to help a group of riders with directions. One of the passengers hit the driving in the face before getting off.

“Let me be clear - assaults on our employees are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. As CEO, I've directed our General Counsel's office to pursue every available legal remedy to ensure these individuals are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Kolluri said in a statement. "Let this serve as a stern warning: anyone contemplating harm to our frontline employees will be caught, arrested, and face the maximum penalties allowed by law.

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Penalty for assaulting NJ Transit employees increased

Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation in 2022 increasing the penalty for assaulting a NJ Transit conductor, bus driver or other employee. The law was in response to a steady increase in assaults during the pandemic although they were already a concern of the union.

Assaults on employees became a third-degree felony punishable by thee to five years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine. The law allows NJ Transit to suspend or prohibit individuals who become violent towards an employee from riding on the system.

Previous reporting by Eric Scott was used in this report

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