Tram Operator Suspended
After Incident with Student

Tram operator John Rivera was suspended last week after an altercation with a 14-year-old student who had forgotten his Tramway pass.

According to the boy, whose mother has asked that his name be withheld, he was forced to wait an hour in the cold while his 13-year-old sister brought him money to purchase a token. "He came out of the booth and tried to pull her out," the boy told The WIRE, indicating that Rivera expected the sister to pay a return fare. In response, the boy reported passing a crude remark to Rivera, after which, "He attempted to grab me and scratched me. The second time, he grabbed my neck and started choking me." The boy reported his sister was terrified and in tears.

The siblings reported the matter to their parents and a complaint was filed with the 114th Precinct.

In a conversation with The WIRE, Rivera denied touching the sister, and said the first physical contact with the boy occurred when the boy grabbed his arm. He admitted, "I grabbed his shirt," but denied choking the boy. Rivera has filed a statement with Tramway management.