Subway Rider Attacked, Robbed of Pack of Cigarettes at 116th Street Station

HARLEM, NY — Cigarettes are so expensive they've become robbery targets in Harlem.

Police have arrested one man, and are searching for another, after the two roughed up a subway rider at the 116th Street B and C station and stole a pack of cigarettes.

The incident happened on July 15 at 3:30 p.m. when a 33-year-old man was entering the station, police said. The two suspects asked the victim for $2 and were turned down, so police say the pair grabbed the victim and slammed him against a wall.

They stole a pack of Newports from the man's bag and then smashed his cell phone when he attempted to call 911, police said.

Police arrested one of the men, Demetrius Cummings, of Prospect-Lefferts Garden, Brooklyn, on July 23. He was arrested in the same subway stop after a transit officer recognized Cummings from a wanted poster in the station where he is accused of committing the crime, police said. Police charged him with robbery.

They are still looking for the second suspect. He is described by police as black, 30 to 40 years old, and he was wearing a gray T-shirt and black sweatpants at the time of the alleged crime.

Photo Credit: NYPD