NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A report of a Queens subway train slashing on Wednesday morning turned out to be a lie, according to police, who charged the MTA worker who told the tale.
Henry Herring, 54, told police that he was riding a southbound F train at the Jamaica-179th Street station just before 4 a.m. on Wednesday when a man began a dispute with him.
He said that he raised his hands to protect his face, and the attacker slashed him across both hands.
A police investigation showed that Herring, an MTA cleaner, lied about the attack and that his wound was self-inflicted. He is charged with filing a false police report.
“Assaults on MTA employees are a real issue and the NYPD has made real progress identifying and capturing perpetrators,” MTA Communications Director Tim Minton said in a statement. “What's alleged in this case is beyond disappointing, pulling resources from investigations of actual crimes, while undermining confidence in safety of the transit system.”
Herring, who was hired by the MTA in January 2023, was suspended without pay pending review for further action.