This is some turnstyle justice.
Repeated criminals were able to freely punch a 37-year-old pregnant woman on a Queens Metro train last month on a Queens Metro train after committing three other similar traffic attacks over the past four months, but have repeatedly retreated to carry out more violence, sources said.
Christopher Benitez, 33, of Brooklyn, was arrested again on Friday after he was arrested on Friday after arresting his latest victim on a J train at Jamaica Centre Parsons-Archer Station around 5:50pm on February 25th. According to officers and sources, Christopher Benitez, 33, was arrested again.
The alleged attack comes after a series of recent attacks that did not lead to him being locked up. He punched a woman on the Queens subway on December 26th, arrested, released the day without bail, attacked another woman in Manhattan late afternoon.
News that he was able to punch freely again shocked him that he had not put one of Benitez's early victims in prison.
“I'm really scared,” said 37-year-old Elaine Silva.
“It also makes me feel very angry about it, especially because it's another woman. It was a pregnant woman. I actually feel very angry about it.”
Sources say Benitez's latest attacks began on November 9th, when he was arrested for punching a 40-year-old woman in the face and chest, and for making a random attack at the Jamaica Van Wack Metro Station in Queens.
He was granted release overseen in the attack, as requested by the prosecutor.
That decision allowed him to strike again freely at Roosevelt Avenue-74th Street Metro Station in Queens at 7:10am on December 26th.
He was arrested again, but now he let go with a desk look ticket ordered him to appear in court on February 21st.
Rather than learning his lesson, he attacked again in Manhattan hours later, punching his face as he attacked Silva and headed towards the exit of 42nd Avenue Bryant Park Station around 4:40pm
Finally, the prosecutor asked for Benitez's bail, and the judge set it up with $2,500 in cash or $5,000 in bonds.
The revolving door for a man with apparent problems left Silva discouraged.
“I understand that he has a mental health disorder, but if I met him again, he might not remember me, but what if he did the same to others?” Silva said. “And see what happened.”
The bust and bailors are said to have not narrowed Benitez straight. He was again arrested on January 25th while on bail for fares in Brooklyn and was allowed to plead despite all recent arrests.
However, he did not appear on the next court date due to his first December 26 attack, and a warrant was issued, sources said.
When he was arrested Friday for his latest attack on a pregnant woman, a warrant was issued for him.
Benitez's rap sheet also includes an assault arrest in January 2019, a bust for a criminal mischief in July 2018, and a June 2016 bust allegedly drinking alcohol on the streets, sources said.
Benitez's latest attack prevented the pregnant victim from being hospitalized, so he was again charged with a third-degree attack, officers said.
Benitez wore a black puff jacket, blue jeans and black sneakers as he was led into the cuffs from the grounds of Transit District 20, inside the Briarwood Subway Station.
He saw the waiting press photographer for a moment, then bowed his head and was led by a waiting police car from the station and led him to Queens Crown Court.
His arrest in the latest incident was pending Friday evening.
Additional Reports by Jack Morphet
