HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a woman charged with pepper-spraying a man on a SEPTA bus earlier this month will be prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General’s mass transit prosecutor.
SEPTA Transit Police, in consultation with the mass transit prosecutor’s office, charged 22-year-old Paulina Reyes with misdemeanor simple assault and possessing an instrument of crime and summary counts of harassment and disorderly conduct.
On the afternoon of January 19, when the bus was in the 2300 block of Carpenter Street, Reyes punched and pepper-sprayed the male victim multiple times while engaged in a confrontation with him. The two are acquaintances and the confrontation regarded the victim’s postings online containing political content and views.
The incident was captured on bus surveillance video and was recorded by someone who was with the victim.
“This case is a reminder that violence will not be tolerated as a means to conduct political debate, protest, or exhibit differences,” Attorney General Sunday said. “This type of violence is senseless, as we have an individual facing criminal charges over political disagreement.”
Reyes was arraigned Thursday morning and released on her own recognizance, meaning there was not requirement to post bail.
The mass transit prosecutor was put into effect via Act 40, which was passed by the legislature and signed into law by the governor in December 2023.
The Office of Attorney General appreciates the collaboration with SEPTA police in furtherance of achieving public safety goals.
# # #