A morning commute on the northbound 6 train took a disturbing turn on Monday, April 13, when a 27-year-old rider reported that a man exposed himself and performed a lewd act as the train approached Canal Street, according to police. She told investigators the man stood directly in front of her around 9:11 a.m., exposed himself, and continued the behavior while remaining on the train as it headed uptown. The woman got off at 14th Street–Union Square and reported the encounter to authorities. Police say the suspect has not been identified and are urging anyone who was on that train to check for video or other potential evidence.
NYPD Crime Stoppers Seeks Tips
NYPD Crime Stoppers has posted a wanted alert on X with the case details and says tipsters may be eligible for up to $3,500 if their information leads to an arrest and indictment, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. The program is asking anyone with video, photos, or witness accounts to call the anonymous hotline or submit tips online as listed on NYC.gov. Investigators have not announced any arrests in the case.
Transit Safety and Trends
Incidents of exposure in the subway remain sporadic yet stubbornly present across the system, according to NYPD transit arrest reports that document sex crime related arrests across multiple precincts and transit districts in 2025. That backdrop helps explain why detectives increasingly lean on rider-submitted video and tip lines. NYPD transit data show arrests in the transit jurisdiction last year. State officials have also pointed to stepped up patrols and co-response outreach teams aimed at making trains and platforms feel safer for riders, as outlined in the New York State State of the State agenda.
Legal Implications
Public lewdness in New York is defined under Penal Law Section 245.00 and applies when someone intentionally exposes intimate parts or commits a lewd act in a public place. Under New York State Senate statute Section 245.00, public lewdness is classified as a misdemeanor, and prosecutors decide on the exact charges based on the facts and any prior history. Aggravated or repeated conduct, or exposure in the presence of a minor, can result in more serious counts.
How To Report
Anyone with information, video, or photos from the northbound 6 train around 9:11 a.m. on April 13 is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted online at NYPD Crime Stoppers, the city notes. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may qualify for the advertised reward if their information leads to an arrest and indictment. Police are also asking potential witnesses to preserve any footage and share it with investigators.
