Stabbing at St. George station is latest in string of violent TTC incidents

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Riding the better way is getting dangerous.

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The TTC has seen a string of violence recently.

Marvin Alfred, president of ATU Transit Union Local 113, says the TTC needs to do more to protect workers and the public.

“We need a stronger contingent of Special Constables and the resources to arrest those who commit acts of violence. We aren’t looking for a police state but just more support for people and transit workers. We want a safe, reliable transit for everyone,” Alfred said.

Two days after a woman was pushed onto the tracks at the Bloor-Yonge subway station, police were called to a robbery on Tuesday evening to the Pioneer Village TTC station where a man was robbed and chocked and lost consciousness.

The suspect is a man, wearing a black North Face jacket and black pants.

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Elsewhere on Tuesday, at 11:30 pm, a man was seriously injured after being stabbed at the St. George subway station.

Police say a 30-year-old man was sitting on the platform when he was stabbed in the neck by another man in an unprovoked attack.

Early Wednesday night, police said a man — 23-year-old Danta Easterbrook, of Toronto — has been arrested and charged with an assault with a weapon.

Toronto Police were called on Saturday, March 19 at 9:45 pm to the Sheppard-Yonge subway station for reports a TTC operator was assaulted by a group of six people.

It’s reported the group was behaving improperly when approached by the operator, who was then attacked.

The operator was taken to hospital with a head injury which was non-life threatening.

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Two boys were arrested and each charged with mischief under and interfere with property, uttering threats and assault causing bodily harm.

They were released and are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Two males are still outstanding and wanted.

The incident follows other assaults involving TTC employees this year.

On the morning of Feb. 9, a 46-year-old TTC employee was stabbed at Dupont Station while on his was to work. A 30-year-old man was charged.

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green says the TTC is safe by any global measurement.

“We move hundreds of millions of customers every year without incident but we never take that for granted which is why we are continually looking at ways to make the system even safer. The TTC has numerous safety features and programs in place to ensure customers and employees are as safe as possible. We have Transit Special Constables strategically patrolling the system to detect and respond to security incidents,” Green said.

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“We have cameras in all stations and vehicles, we have two way communications systems on platforms in the Designated Waiting Areas, we have alarms and emergency strips on all vehicles, we have uniformed staff who can contact transit control directly to assist customers, we have the SafeTTC app to report suspicious incidents in real time and our transit control center has a direct line to 9-1-1 to respond to emergencies.”

Sue Cox says she has become more nervous using transit these days.

“I always stand well back (at the subway) until the train is in the station. These days, it seems you need eyes in the back of you head,” Cox said at the Sherbourne TTC station.

Andrew Mason isn’t worried about using transit.

“Anything can happen anywhere. I don’t use the subway at peak times so I don’t think I have anything to worry about,” he said.