Local Dad Brutally Attacked Near PATH Train Station In Jersey City

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A local dad is recovering after being brutally attacked near the PATH train station on Jersey City property on Saturday, said friends and officials.

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Port Authority police arrested Michael Anthony Perez, 35, of Staten Island on Saturday night and charged him with aggravated assault for the attack, an official source confirmed Friday.

Officers provided aid to the man before transporting him to the hospital for further evaluation, the source said.

He was released from the hospital on New Year's Day, but is being treated for a brain injury, said friends in social media posts and on a GoFundMe.

The suspect was taken into custody and later transferred to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.

Vanessa Hobbs wrote in the GoFundMe for the victim this week, "Olivia and Ian’s father was assaulted on December 28th outside of the Exchange Place PATH station in Jersey City. He has been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury including a low-grade brain bleed, as well as orbital, zygomatic arch, and temporal bone fractures. His front teeth are broken, and the eyesight in his right eye is permanently damaged."

She noted, "They were able to make an arrest based on a key witness providing vital details. It was a completely random and unprovoked attack."

The fundraiser is meant to help with medical bills, she wrote.

Jersey City Downtown Councilman James Solomon issued a statement on Thursday saying, "I'm deeply disturbed by the brutal, unprovoked assault that occurred by the Exchange Place PATH station, leaving a man with serious injuries... No one should fear for their safety while commuting. Public spaces, especially transit hubs, must be safe for everyone. We spoke to JCPD leadership, and they committed to enhanced protection around major transit areas to ensure the safety of all residents and commuters."

The Jersey City Times quoted Vanessa Hobbs as saying that a homeless man who frequents the area witnessed the attack and provided a description to police that helped them apprehend Perez.

Perez's detention hearing was scheduled for Friday, the story said.

The Exchange Place PATH station is located in Jersey City's financial district, directly across the river from Lower Manhattan. Passengers use the station to connect with trains or ferries in Manhattan, Hoboken, Bayonne, and Newark.