Transit Cop Catches Groping Suspect; Alleged Chelsea Subway Attacker Arrested

On Thursday May 1, 2025, Officer Roman, a female officer with the Transit Bureau, showed what sharp eyes and social media can do to fight the scourge of subway gropers.

Roman was on her way to court downtown when she spotted a suspect whose photo had recently been posted online by NYPD Crime Stoppers.

The incident had occurred day earlier, on Wednesday, April 30, up in Washington Heights within the confines of the 34 Precinct / Transit District 3.

At approximately 8:35 a.m., a 34-year-old female was riding the southbound 1 train at 191st Street when an unidentified male individual approached her, grabbed her waist and grinded on her buttock.

The female victim remained on the train and though she wasn’t physically injured, she was upset enough to report it to the cops.

“The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual depicted in the attached media in connection with a sexual misconduct incident...” the CrimeStoppers alert began.

A surveillance photo of the suspect described him as “a male with a dark complexion, approximately 30 to 40 years of age, 5 feet 11 inches in height, medium build. He was last seen wearing a black hat, gray sweatshirt, and dark color pants.”

This crime reporter would add the sweatshirt had a large orange and white AU on the front—Auburn University. This is unusual subway attire, likewise the suspect’s mirrored, aviator-like sunglasses.

And so, come May Day, Officer Roman spotted the suspected groper on the train. Never losing sight of him, she called for backup, and by 12:55 p.m. the groper was in handcuffs.

Nobody who spends much time in the Union Square, or the 13th Precinct generally, will be surprised to learn that’s where Officer Roman posed to prove to the public that the crime of groping doesn’t pay.

The man arrested is Gerson Fenandez, a 33-year-old male of 131 West 25th St. in Chelsea. He was charged with two counts of Forcible Touching and Sexual Abuse, 3rd Degree.

D.A. Bragg Indicts Man for Chelsea Subway Attack

The psycho who allegedly shoved a 55-year-old man into a full height revolving door turnstile in a Chelsea A/C/E subway station has been indicted. His name is Peter Perna, 29, of Manhattan, and he’s charged with felony counts of First Degree and Second Degree Assault.

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on March 17, 2025, at approximately 11:13 p.m., the victim was heading home from work and entered the subway station at West 23rd Street and 8th Avenue.

Perna, who entered the station shortly behind the victim, asked if the victim could open the emergency gate after he swiped through. The man declined and walked towards the turnstile.

In response, Perna bodychecked the victim into the metal turnstile, causing a laceration that required approximately 20 stitches. Crime Watch reported the original, then unsolved incident under the headline “Psycho Shoves Man for Refusing Subway Swipe.”

https://www.chelseanewsny.com/news/psycho-shoves-man-for-refusing-subway-swipe-fatality-at-times-square-station-EB4399143

Perna was arrested on March 27, 2025. Described as a white male, 5’9”, 150 lbs, Perna pled not guilty and is being held on $50,001 bail on Rikers Island. His next court date is May 15.