Photo: JOHANNES EISELE / AFP / Getty Images
A Bronx man, Jonathan Davalos, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the stabbing of MTA train operator Myran Pollack in October 2024. The incident occurred at the end of the line on a Four train in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Pollack, who was letting passengers off, was attacked by Davalos, who refused to exit the train. Davalos, then 27, chased Pollack onto the platform and stabbed him 11 times in the torso, abdomen, and thigh.
Pollack, a 30-year veteran of the transit agency, survived the attack but faced a long recovery process. He required multiple surgeries, was placed in a medically induced coma, and spent 16 days in the hospital. Pollack now walks with a cane and continues to suffer from PTSD and social anxiety. During the sentencing, Pollack expressed his ongoing struggles and thanked those who helped save his life, including NYPD officers and his MTA supervisor.
Davalos, who appeared virtually for his sentencing due to mental health issues, had a history of violence, including previous assaults on MTA employees. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez emphasized the importance of prosecuting attacks on transit workers, stating, "No one who ever comes to work in this great city should ever have to be fearful of doing their job."
The sentencing was initially postponed because Davalos refused to enter the courtroom in person, citing mental health issues. He was also sentenced to five years of post-release supervision. The case highlights ongoing concerns about safety for transit workers, even as overall transit crime has decreased slightly.
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