Police Capture Suspect In NYC Transgender Woman Attack

KEY POINTS

Pablo Valle, 26, was nabbed by NYPD officers
Valle attacked Serene Daniari, 26, a transgender woman in a Manhattan subway
Another woman also harassed Daniari

The New York Police Department officers nabbed one of the suspects responsible for harassing a transgender woman in a Manhattan subway.

In a tweet early Monday morning, the NYPD announced the capture of 26-year-old Pablo Valle, one of the two suspects who terrorized Serena Daniari, 26 on Friday, Dec. 24.

Great job by Manhattan Warrants apprehending this suspect in NJ. Thank you to everyone who called in with information.

As I’ve said before, if you choose to commit a crime that is motivated by prejudice, you will be held accountable and brought to justice. https://t.co/M3hr11UBwc
— Chief Kenneth Corey (@NYPDChiefOfDept) January 27, 2020

According to The New York Post, Valle, who also went by the name Pablo Escobar, approached Daniari while she was waiting for the southbound C train at West 155th Street and started asking her questions.
Daniari was reportedly reading a book and wearing headphones during the incident.

“I took my headphones out, I asked him to repeat himself and upon hearing my voice, he realized I was transgender,” she said. “He started saying, ‘Oh, you’re a guy, you’re a guy; you’re a tranny’.”

Valle spat on her and slapped her in the face.

Valle was also said to be accompanied by a woman in her 20s who continued the attack by slapping Daniari’s iPhone from her hand when the latter tried taking pictures.

The couple fled the station but the police were able to get a photo of them and asked the public’s help in locating them.

Prior to the incident, Valle has 27 arrests including busts for drugs, assault, grand larceny and robbery.