New Arrest Made In Brutal Attack On MTA Worker In Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY — A Brooklyn woman has been arrested weeks after an on-duty MTA worker was brutally attacked, police announced Tuesday evening.

Leschea Aldridge, 25, was charged with attempted assault, assault, theft of services, endangering the welfare of a child, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon for her role in the July 1 attack on Marshalee Reid, an MTA employee working at the New Lots Avenue No. 3 train station in East New York.

This is the second arrest in the case, as Ayizhae Thomas, 24, was arrested on the same charges earlier in the month, officials said.

Aldridge was arraigned and released on supervised release.

Police say the two women attacked 51-year-old MTA worker Reid inside the mezzanine of the New Lots Avenue No. 3 train station. Just moments earlier, Reid had been assisting an elderly man in the station.

According to police, Reid opened the emergency exit to let the elderly man through when she saw one of the suspects, Thomas, jump the turnstile. She reportedly told Thomas to come back and pay her fare through the open door. Aldridge then asked if she could enter without paying like the man, but Reid told her she also needed to pay, according to the Transport Workers Union.

Officials say that's when the two women approached Reid and began punching her repeatedly in the face and body. One of them allegedly struck the 51-year-old multiple times with a set of keys, causing minor lacerations.

Thomas and Aldridge fled the scene on foot following the attack.

Emergency responders took Reid to Brookdale Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries and listed in stable condition.

After Thomas’ arrest earlier this month, NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said it is now up to the courts to deliver maximum justice and that they “will be watching closely.”