On March 23, 2013 at approximately 9:00 pm Transit Police officers from Area 3 responded to Ashmont MBTA station for a report of a trolley operator being assaulted. Upon arrival officers interviewed the victim/T employee who stated the following: while at Ashmont T station she was angrily approached by a male, later identified as James Robinson, 53 of Mattapan, who demanded she open the rear doors so he (Robinson) could board. It was explained to Robinson he must enter via the front door and pay his fare. Upon hearing this, Robinson began pounding on the trolley's front window, claimed to be armed with a knife and threatened to stab the female operator if she did not open the rear doors. Transit Police officers placed Robinson into custody for Assault by means of a Dangerous Weapon and transported him to TPD HQ for the arrest booking process. Robinson was arraigned in Dorchester District Court earlier today.
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