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<\/p>\nMIDWOOD, Brooklyn (WABC) — A 65-year-old hotel chef who was assaulted and robbed on a Brooklyn subway platform last week returned to the station where it happened, describing lingering pain and frustration as police continue investigating the attack.<\/p>\n
Anatoliy Suprun said he was sitting on an elevated platform at the Avenue H station early Friday morning, passing the time on his phone before his train arrived.<\/p>\n
“Put my earphones in and was about to watch Channel 7 news,” he said.<\/p>\n
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Moments later, someone sat beside him and he became the victim in his own news story.<\/p>\n
“Suddenly, that person just jumped over in front of my face – grabbed my telephone and start to run,” he said.<\/p>\n
At 65 years old, Suprun chased the thief down the platform.<\/p>\n
“You know, I’m sick and tired of watching this kind of news so my major goal was to stop him,” he said.<\/p>\n
He caught up, but was violently thrown to the ground. Police said the suspect punched Suprun in the face, causing him to hit his head. Suprun said the impact was so severe that even his doctor wanted to see video of the attack.<\/p>\n
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But Suprun said he was told by someone from the courthouse that detectives reported the station’s cameras were not functioning.<\/p>\n
“He told me, ‘unfortunately, detectives say the cameras around the station, I mean inside the station, they are not working,'” Suprun said.<\/p>\n
The MTA disputed that claim, telling Eyewitness News in a statement: “All cameras at the Ave H Q subway station were working as designed on May 1 at 4:50 a.m.”<\/p>\n
Police officers responding to the scene were able to obtain video of potential suspects from inside the train, and Suprun identified his attacker from that footage.<\/p>\n
Still, he said he remains frustrated by what he sees as inadequate safety measures.<\/p>\n
“Even in Cairo the subway is better. Whatever we call a ‘third world country,'” he said.<\/p>\n
Police arrested 43-year-old Brian Booker, who is charged with robbery and assault.<\/p>\n
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