Reward for Thug Who Savagely Beat Man with Autism on B Train

Police are looking for a man who savagely beat a 22-year-old autistic man on the B train last week, and Councilwoman Letitia James is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to his conviction.

James Hassell, 23, was on his way to Kings Highway to buy some clothing at Conway on Feb. 1 when, at about 2:45 p.m., a man got on the train at the Prospect Park station, Hassell said.

The man stood in front of Hassell for a few seconds and then, without explanation, began to punch him in the head, Hassell said.

“I’m thinking, why was he hitting me for no reason,” Hassel said just before a news conference yesterday in front of the Atlantic Terminal train station near his Fort Greene home.

There were several other people on the train, but nobody tried to stop him. “They were scared,” Hassell said.

After being hit three times in the head and three in the face, Hassell ran off the train and up to the token booth, where a clerk called 911, Hassell said.

Hassell’s nose was broken, requiring three hours of surgery, said his mother, Joyce Yelverton. He was treated at Kings County Medical Center. It is expected to take six to eight weeks to heal, she added.

Hassell’s family said they were saddened that not a single person on the train did anything to help.

“If somebody had just yelled out or just screamed there wouldn’t have been so much damage,” said Hassell’s sister, Lavette Yelverton.

Hassell and his family called the news conference at the urging of Brooklyn activist Anthony Herbert, who suggested that doing so might convince the witnesses to come forward and help catch the man before he attacks someone else.

“There were four or five people on that train: there was a group of young ladies and there was a couple on that train who saw what took place. We need you need you to step up … and make that phone call to the police,” he said in front of the small cluster of reporters.

Councilwoman Letitia James said Transit Police had some images of use on video feed and were tracking down suspects.

She urged the NYPD to send more police to the subways and to Fort Greene, where there have also been two recent sexual assaults near BAM.

“We definitely and desperately need more police in this community,” she said.

She said was compelled in this case to offer a reward, which she is paying for with personal funds, because she was particularly appalled that the thug chose to pray on a man with autism.

“Obviously he man knew he was vulnerable,” she said.

But Hassell, who answered all questions from reporters calmly and thoroughly, thinks it was more likely a random act of violence having nothing to do with his condition. He offered that the man could have been on drugs.

Family members said they just didn’t know.

“Maybe it was a bias attack," said Lavette Yelverton, "but I think he was crazy."