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Riders help SEPTA officer struggling with violent suspect

The suspect, who allegedly says he has a gun and threatens to shoot passengers, attacks the officer after the officer pulls him off the train. During the struggle, passengers run to the officer’s aid, and the suspect is eventually taken into custody.

March 19, 2014
1 min to read


PHILADELPHIA — CBS reported riders got off a train to help a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) police officer who was attacked by a suspect who allegedly said he had a gun and was threatening to shoot passengers, according to a SEPTA official.

The suspect turned violent after the officer tried to pull him off the train. The officer attempted to use pepper spray and his baton on the suspect, who was believed to be on drugs, according to CBS, but neither was effective in stopping the attack. During the struggle, the suspect kept trying to take the officer’s gun and passengers ran to the officer’s aid.

The suspect eventually managed to get away, with passengers running after him. Eventually, backup arrived and took the suspect into custody. For the full story, click here.

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