Rape, 2 stabbings on SEPTA over the weekend under investigation
By Corey Davis and WPVI Digital Staff
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PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The report of a rape on SEPTA’s Broad Street Line had commuters on edge Monday morning.
The violent assault supposedly took place in the middle of a quiet Sunday afternoon, but it wasn’t the only police call on the transit system over the weekend.
Two stabbings are also being investigated.
The first reported incident over the weekend happened around 4:30 a.m. Saturday.
Action News is told a 29-year-old man was stabbed in the arm during a confrontation with men inside Suburban Station at 15th and Market streets in Center City.
Those suspects were last seen leaving the area.
The injured man was able to flag down an officer a few blocks away. Medics took him to Jefferson University Hospital where he was listed in stable condition.
The second incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. Sunday on the Broad Street Line in North Philadelphia.
Police received reports of a rape that occurred in the area of the 1200 block of North Broad Street between Erie and Girard avenue stations.
A SEPTA spokesperson released the following statement:
“That investigation is with the PPD Special Victims Unit. SEPTA police are reviewing surveillance video from the Broad Street Line to assist. We haven’t received anything further on a possible location or other details yet.”
The third incident over the weekend involved a situation where police say someone stabbed a man multiple times just after 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the 34th Street Station on Market Street.
The suspect was taken into custody and the victim is expected to survive.
Tension around how to combat issues involving attacks on SEPTA passengers and employees continues to escalate.
Last year, transit police union FOP Lodge 109 began openly pushing for new leadership of the transit police department citing a shooting, robbery, beating and stabbings.
SEPTA has since hired dozens of unarmed security guards, but transit police say the agency needs more trained officers.
City Councilman David Oh will introduce a budget amendment to withhold SEPTA’s $10-million operating budget until he says the agency commits to hiring more officers and raising salaries for more competitive pay.
In response to Councilman Oh’s proposal, SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch said officials will testify before City Council regarding the annual budget on May 3.
“We look forward to addressing questions on safety and security on the system,” said Busch. “We are actively recruiting for new police officers, and have added new social outreach workers as well as ambassadors to be eyes and ears for police.”
Busch added, “SEPTA’s top priority is the safety and security of our riders and employees.”
There are currently 210 police officers on the force, according to Busch.
“Pre-pandemic, and going back at least 10 years, we averaged approximately 230 officers,” Busch said. “The SEPTA Operating Budget includes funding for up to 260 officers, and we are actively recruiting new candidates.”
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