Pitbull Owner Arrested After Subway Attack, NYPD Says

DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The man whose pitbull attacked a woman on the subway last week was arrested on Thursday, police said.

Ruben Roncallo, 53, was charged with assault and reckless endangerment in connection with the incident, an NYPD spokesman told Patch. Roncallo and his dog were on a No. 4 subway train on Friday when Roncallo and another passenger got into an argument, according to police and witness reports.

As the train pulled in near Wall Street, Roncallo and the woman began arguing and shoving each other, witnesses said, before the dog grabbed onto the woman's foot. A bystander recorded video of the incident, which shows the dog biting the woman's foot and refusing to let go for several seconds.

MTA chairman Joe Lhota called the incident "outrageous" after video of the attack went viral.

"I am as outraged as anyone when I saw that," he said. "There's no reason in the world why that dog was allowed, one, on board, down to the platform on the train but let alone harassing one of my passengers," he said.

Non-service animals must be held by their owners while on the subway, Lhota said.

Patch was not immediately able to identify a defense attorney for Roncallo on Thursday afternoon.

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