NYPD seeks information on suspected identity fraud and pepper spray incident at South Ferry Station

STATEN ISLAND, NY — The NYPD is asking the public for help in identifying a person to be questioned in connection with a bizarre incident in which a person allegedly posed as a police detective and pepper sprayed a victim at the South Ferry/Whitehall Station in Manhattan.

The incident reportedly occurred around 6:35 p.m. Sunday on the platform of the northbound “R” train at the station near Whitehall Terminal, which is used by Staten Island Ferry passengers, according to a statement from the NYPD’s deputy information officer.

“An unknown individual wearing an NYPD detective badge hanging on a chain around his neck unlawfully prevented commuters from boarding public transportation and attempted to detain them while posing as a police officer,” the police statement said.

The perpetrator allegedly tried to stop a 46-year-old man who was trying to walk away from him. According to the police report, the perpetrator allegedly sprayed pepper spray from a can onto the back of the 46-year-old man’s head.

The unidentified person then fled on a northbound “R” train and was spotted on surveillance video at the 8th Street-NYU subway station before exiting the vehicle and disappearing in an unknown direction, police said in a statement.

The 46-year-old victim suffered burning and swelling to his face and traveled by private vehicle to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, where he was treated and subsequently released, the police statement said.

Police described the person being sought as a man who was seen wearing NYPD Detective Badge No. 694 on a chain around his neck. He was also wearing ripped denim shorts, a black and yellow T-shirt and a yellow hat.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ and tagging X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.