Newark Woman Among 2 Arrested For Aggravated Assault on NJ Transit Employees

NEWARK, NJ — A Newark woman who threw coffee in the face of a bus driver and a Linden man who shoved a train conductor were both arrested in the separate cases on New Jersey Transit employees, NJ Transit Police reported.

Sakinah Brydie, 40, of Newark got on an NJ Transit bus at around 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20 at the intersection of Broad and Market streets in Newark. After talking with the bus operator, Brydie allegedly threw a hot cup of coffee in the operator’s face, causing minor facial burns, police report.

Brydie left the bus and was arrested a short distance away from the scene by the New Jersey Transit Police Department. During processing, a small packet containing a drugs was discovered in her possession, police reported.

Brydie has been charged with aggravated assault on a bus operator, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), and failure to give a controlled dangerous substance to police. She was released on her own recognizance.

In a separate incident, Michael Grella, 33, of Linden got on a North Jersey Coast Line train on Monday, Jan. 23, at around 11:15 a.m.

On the train, Grella got into a verbal dispute with a male conductor about the ticket price. When Grella went to get off the train at the South Amboy Train Station, he shoved the conductor in the chest.

Grella was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Grella was also found to have outstanding warrants from Linden and Essex County and he was additionally charged with hindering apprehension.

The conductor in Monday’s incident refused medical treatment.

“NJ TRANSIT will not tolerate any type of assault on an employee,’’ said NJ Transit's Executive Director Steven H. Santoro. “We will work with our local law enforcement partners to ensure these and other acts like them are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.’’

If convicted, Brydie faces up to five years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines. Grella faces up to 18 months in prison and up to $10,000 in fines if he is convicted.

Reporting by Alexis Tarrazi (Patch Staff)