PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) 34-year-old Kenneth Grimes is behind bars after police say he allegedly pushed a woman off the SEPTA platform at 40th and Market and onto the tracks below Sunday morning.
"She injures her shoulder. She has lacerations on her knees. She looks up, sees the male. He's now holding a knife threatening to kill her," said Southwest Detectives Lt. John Walker.
The 27-year-old victim, a Fishtown woman, managed to gain her composure and climb back up onto the platform seconds before a train pulled in. Police say Grimes, who fled to the other end of the platform, got on the train. The victim called 9-1-1. That's when SEPTA passenger Ilana Haas came to the platform on her way to work.
"She seemed very shaken. I didn't hear the details of what happened. It seemed to me like she fell down and hit her elbow," she told FOX 29.
"We're very fortunate a train wasn't coming and the fact you have live third rail issues there. A person steps on those rails they can be electrocuted," said Lt. Walker.
SEPTA video surveillance caught the attack on camera. Alert SEPTA officers forwarded a description of Grimes to officers down the line. The victim also gave police a precise description of her alleged attacker. Moments later, Grimes was spotted by police getting off a train at 30th street station. He still had the knife, according to police.
"As they confront the male he became pretty violent. He was spitting on officers. He did advise them he had a knife on him, they brought him under control," said Lt. Walker.