Long Branch Man Assaulted NJ Transit Conductor In Fare Dispute, Police Say

LONG BRANCH, NJ — A Long Branch man was charged with two counts of aggravated assault after police say he assaulted an NJ Transit train conductor over a fare dispute.

Xaiver Dennis, 19, of Long Branch, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of theft of service and trespassing. He was first apprehended by Bradley Beach Police and then taken into custody by NJ Transit Police.

This happened at 5 p.m. Friday, April 3, on a North Jersey Coast Line train that departed from Long Branch and was scheduled to arrive in Bay Head at 5:06 p.m.

The train had to stop in Bradley Beach after NJ Transit Police were notified that Dennis punched a conductor in a dispute about paying the fare, said NJ Transit.

The conductor was injured seriously enough that he had to be taken to a hospital, but his injuries were not life threatening.

A second conductor was also injured (he was elbowed), but refused treatment.

"Last week we saw two reprehensible examples of assaults on our frontline employees, and we are utilizing every available resource at our disposal to see that justice is served in both cases," said NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri. "Let me be clear: Assaults on our employees are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. As CEO, I've directed our general counsel's office to pursue every available legal remedy to ensure these individuals are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

He said an NJ Transit bus driver was also attacked on February 21. He said in that case, the bus driver was struck in the face by a passenger who didn't want to exit the bus at the last stop at Deptford Mall in South Jersey.