Woman Arrested for Assaulting Station Agent Brazenly Violates Court Order to Harass Victim at Co-defendant’s Arraignment

AUGUST 1 — One of two women who attacked Station Agent Marshalee Reid at the New Lots station on June 28 revictimized the transit worker Thursday when she showed up at her co-defendant’s court date to intimidate Reid.

Ayizhae Thomas was arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Criminal Court on Wednesday, July 30 and allowed to continue her supervised release, to the disappointment and anger of the union and Reid, who is still suffering greatly from the brutal assault. 

“We have a mother who was assaulted for merely doing her job, and this individual walked free today,” said Robert Kelley, VP of Stations.

Reid recalled the attack, which left her bloodied and bruised, and came when she was still recovering from brain surgery.

“They were punching me, they were kicking me,” said the Station Agent Wednesday. “I do remember I was helping the elderly man to come through the gate, that was my reason to open the gate.”

When her co-defendant Lashea Aldridge was arraigned on Thursday, July 31, Ayizhae Thomas came back to court, brazenly violating the order of protection that was issued for her to stay away from Reid. 
While she and members of #TWULocal100 waited for the proceedings to start, Thomas was seen filming videos of union members. Outside of the courthouse, Thomas and her associates harassed Reid and her supporters.

NYPD later took witness statements from the union members who were present at court.

“She said that all of us is going to need to stick together because we’re going to need it, and as many of us as we have, they have people too,” Stations Division Chair Nicolette Browne told investigators Thomas had said.

President John V. Chiarello is calling for Thomas to be rearrested after her obvious attempt to frighten Reid.

“Not only was Station Agent Marshalee Reid brutally attacked in June by two women at the New Lots station, but the one who was allowed to continue with supervised release Wednesday violated an order of protection when she showed up at her co-defendant’s arraignment to harass and intimidate Ms. Reid the following day," Chiarello said. “We thank the NYPD and Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their continued attention to this case, and we are calling for Thomas' rearrest.”

We are also calling for more supporters at future court dates for Thomas and Aldridge. Both of them will appear in court on September 30, 9:00 a.m. at 320 Jay Street, TAP 2.