THE HEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
DAY JUST WALKING DOWN THE
STREET.
SOME FALLING AND EVEN SUFFERING
FROM CONCUSSIONS.
THE STORIES ARE HARROWING.
>> I WAS LITERALLY JUST WALKING
AND A MAN CAME UP AND PUNCHED ME
IN THE FACE.
OH, MY GOD, IT HURTS SO BAD.
>> Reporter: COLLEGE STUDENT
KALA TANADA SAID SHE WAS JUST
LEAVING CLASS IN MANHATTAN.
>> I JUST GOT PUNCHED IN THE
FACE WALKING HOME.
>> HE HIT ME RIGHT IN MY
CHEEKBONE.
THIS DOESN’T HURT AS MUCH AS THE
CONCUSSION DOES.
>> YOU HAVE SOME VISIBLE SIGNS,
YOU HAVE A BLACK EYE, BUT
McKALA, EMOTIONALLY, HOW ARE YOU
FEELING?
>> IT’S BEEN REALLY, REALLY
HARD.
I THINK IT HITS ME IN WAVES.
A LOT OF CRYING BECAUSE IT WAS
REALLY, REALLY SCARY.
>> Reporter: THE NYPD CONFIRMS
IT IS LOOKING INTO AT LEAST FOUR
SIMILAR CASES, LIKE THE ONE
SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
IN ONE OF THEM, POLICE SAY A
40-YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN
ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH
ASSAULT.
>> I WAS PUNCHED IN THE HEAD IN
NEW YORK CITY, NEAR TIMES
SQUARE.
>> Reporter: BUT THE POLICE HAVE
NOT LINKED THE CASES TO THE
VIDEOS.
IN RECENT DAYS, DOZENS OF
ACCOUNTS OF ALLEGED ASSAULT HAVE
POPPED UP ONLINE.
NBC NEWS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO
VERIFY ALL OF THE VIDEOS.
THE TROUBLING STORY SURFACING AT
THE SAME TIME THERE HAS BEEN A
RASH OF VIOLENT CRIMES ON THE
CITY’S BUSY SUBWAYS.
IN RESPONSE, A NATIONAL GUARD
HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN TO SEARCH
BAGS AND 1,000 ADDITIONAL NYPD
OFFICERS ARE NOW RIDING THE
TRAINS TOO.
BUT THE MAYOR PUSHING BACK ON
THE IDEA THAT CRIME IS RAMPANT
IN THIS CITY, AND EXPRESSING
CONCERNS THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS
STOKING FEARS.
>> Reporter: I KNOW THE CITY IS
OUT OF CONTROL.
I’VE VISITED SOME OF THEM IN
THIS COUNTRY.
THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
>> 77% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE
CRIME IS ON THE RISE ACCORDING
TO A GALLUP POLL.
MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT IS UP 10%
FROM THIM LAST YEAR IN NEW YORK
CITY.
BUT IN MOST PLACES, THE FBI SAYS
THAT VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN.
>> Reporter: I’M REALLY SCARED
TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
I’VE JUST BEEN DELAYING IT AS
LONG AS POSSIBLE, BUT I’LL HAVE
TO GO BACK EVENTUALLY.
>> SO WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE
PERSON THAT WAS ARRESTED?
>> WELL, HE IS A REPEAT
OFFENDER, ACCORDING TO POLICE.
HE HAS AN EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL
RECORD.
HE’S BEEN ARRESTED TLIMS IN THE
LAST SIX MONTHS FOR SIMILAR
CRIMES.
HE IS WHAT THE POLICE CALL A
RECIDIVIST.
AND I’VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
NOT JUST ABOUT THIS SPATE OF
CRIMES, BUT ALSO ABOUT WHAT’S
GOING ON THE SUBWAY, AND IT’S
ONE OF THE LARGEST CONCERNS IN
THE NYPD.
THEY’RE ARRESTING THE SAME
PEOPLE FOR THE SAME CRIMES OVER
AND OVER --
>> AND GETTING OUT OF JAIL AND
IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN.
>> THIS HAPPENED TO A VERY GOOD
FRIEND OF MINE, THOONDAT HAPPENE
BE THE FORMER HEAD OF THE NEW
YORK CITY TRANSIT.
SHE GOT PUNCHED IN THE FACE, IN
BROAD DAYLIGHT.
>> WHEN WAS THAT?
>> ABOUT 15 MONTHS AGO.
>> IT’S A SCARY TREND.
THE POLICE FINALLY OVERNIGHT