Alex O’Keefe claims he was taken into custody on a train after an incident involving a complaint from a passenger.
O’Keefe, a writer known for his work on television programs like The Bear and Shrill, has a following of nearly 12,000 on Instagram.
He recounted the incident on his social media platform, detailing an encounter he experienced while traveling in Connecticut on Thursday, September 18.
“I was arrested on the @MTA train to Connecticut today, pulled off, handcuffed, and detained,” O’Keefe wrote. “An old white woman got on the train and immediately pointed at me and told me to correct how I was sitting.”
“I refused so she went to the conductor and complained. The conductor called the police and stopped the train.”
Upon police arrival, O’Keefe was instructed to leave the train, but he questioned the legality of his actions and resisted disembarking.
He explained: “They said I was disturbing the peace by not leaving the train. They pulled me off the train and arrested me without even talking to the Karen who reported the one Black person on the train. On the platform, the police detained me and interrogated me.”
“Only Black folks stayed nearby and recorded the arrest. When I demanded a lawyer and reminded them they didn’t even take a statement from the woman who complained they eventually released me. This country is growing more psycho by the day. What will you do about it?”
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) police addressed the situation, confirming to ABC News that officers responded to a complaint at approximately 10:25 am and requested the passenger to disembark and catch the next train.
The statement continued: “When he continued to refuse to exit, delaying service for several hundred other riders for six minutes, the passenger involved was handcuffed and removed from the train, where he was issued a summons for disorderly conduct, a violation, without further incident at approximately 1048 hours, and allowed to board the next train to complete his trip.”
O’Keefe’s purported transgression involved occupying two seats and having his feet raised.
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber commented on the situation.
“If you’re putting your feet on the seats, you’re breaking the rules of our commuter railroad and of the subways of the whole MTA,” Lieber said, according to PEOPLE.
He continued: “The police have to get involved because somebody won’t take his feet off the seat? Just take your feet off the seat. It’s that simple. And respect other passengers.”
Lieber also mentioned that they will review the video footage from the day and address any issues arising from the incident.