A man with an extensive criminal history, who has been arrested 86 times, violently attacked a stranger on the subway in Manhattan, marking his fifth anti-Asian assault in a row, according to police and sources.
Clive Porter, 33, was allegedly involved in an unprovoked assault on a 45-year-old man at the Bowery and Delancey Street station around 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Witnesses say he sucker punched the victim, forcing him to fall onto the tracks. Before fleeing, Porter reportedly shouted a derogatory remark aimed at Asians.
The victim managed to get back onto the platform, suffering from a swollen eye and in need of medical attention.
Police apprehended Porter less than an hour later at Grand and Forsyth streets. He now faces charges including assault as a hate crime, harassment, and reckless endangerment.
While in custody, Porter, who has a history of emotionally disturbed incidents, allegedly spat at one officer and headbutted another while at Bellevue Hospital.
That same day, he is suspected of multiple attacks. Earlier, around 9:40 a.m., a 72-year-old man was punched in the face on Hester Street. Following that, two minutes later, Porter is believed to have targeted a 33-year-old Asian man on Canal Street, punching him in the head. In an additional incident, he allegedly pickpocketed an elderly Asian woman, but she wasn’t harmed.
Porter’s lengthy criminal record includes 61 felonies and numerous misdemeanors. On the night of October 14, he was accused of threatening a man with a knife at Park Avenue while making aggressive comments. Reports also suggest he had a previous encounter that morning in Times Square, where he allegedly threatened another victim.
Despite the serious nature of some charges, the judge allowed Porter supervised release due to the nature of the misdemeanors, which don’t qualify for bail.
His past includes arrests for various serious offenses, including possession of drugs with intent to sell and vandalism, marking a troubling pattern of behavior.
