Cops Charge Man With Masturbating On PATH Train: Port Authority

NEWARK, NJ — Police arrested a Newark man accused of masturbating on the PATH train earlier this month after he hopped a turnstile almost a week after the incident took place, authorities say.

Port Authority police on duty at the Newark PATH station around 3 a.m. on Wednesday allegedly saw James Reese, 57, forcibly open the handicapped turnstile and gain entry to the station without paying a fare.

Officers then stopped Reese and placed him under arrest, according to the Port Authority Police Department.

After running a computer check on Reese, officers learned that he was wanted on three outstanding warrants from Newark and Jersey City. In addition, during arrest processing, police recognized Reese as the suspect in a public lewdness incident that took place on July 20.

During that incident, a PATH rider allegedly took a photo of Reese masturbating on the train and provided it to police, a Port Authority spokesperson told Patch.

After being arrested on Wednesday for his alleged fare-hopping, Reese “indicated his responsibility” for the July 20 incident, authorities stated.

Police charged Reese with Public Lewdness, Bail Jumping, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Theft of Service.

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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