Subway Agent Arrested For Refusing To Buzz Cop Through Gate Dies At 54, Union Says

NEW YORK CITY — An MTA employee fighting criminal charges for declining to buzz a police officer through a subway station gate died Wednesday, the Transport Workers Union Local 100 announced. Darryl Goodwin, 54, died of unknown causes, TWU Local 100 said in a statement.

Goodwin was arrested in May while working as a station agent at the Columbus Circle subway station, according to court records. Goodwin allegedly denied a police officer entry to the station by refusing to buzz the officer through the station's gate. TWU Local 100 called the arrest "unjust" and said that Goodwin's family will fight to clear the MTA worker's name.

The police officer, identified as Lt. Richard Khalaf of the Midtown North precinct, was chasing a shoplifter on May 16 when the closed gate foiled his attempt to catch the criminal, the Daily News reported in May. Khalaf confronted Goodwin at his booth after the shoplifter got away and arrested him, cutting his thumb after grabbing Goodwin's MTA badge, the Daily News reported.

TWU Local 100 said in a statement that Goodwin denied that he refused Khalad access to the gate and buzzed the officer through when he became aware of the situation.

Goodwin was facing charges of misdemeanor assault, resisting arrest and obstruction of government administration, according to court records.

The 54-year-old's family did not disclose his cause of death, but TWU Local 100 Vice President of Stations Derick Echevarria said Goodwin suffered from high blood pressure and other health issues. A union statement connected Goodwin's arrest and charges with his death.

"We believe this unwarranted arrest had an underlying affect on his demise," Echevarria said in a statement. "Darryl was stressed out and working a lot of overtime to recover the wages he lost. He never should have been arrested."

Echevarria knew Goodwin since high school and described him as a "gentle giant" he said in a statement.

Goodwin appeared in court three times after his arrest, according to court records. The most recent appearance occurred on Aug. 10, records show.

Photo courtesy TWU Local 100