deadmonton 2006 - other police matters - chris cassidy
Quick thinking and even quicker reflexes saved an Edmonton Transit rider from certain death.
While standing at the edge of the platform of the Light Rail Transit Churchill Station on February 8th, 2006 Chris Cassidy felt two hands on his back pushing him forward.
In a split-second decision, Cassidy used the momentum of the shove to leap across the tracks and hug the east wall of the station as a northbound LRT train rushed by.
Witnesses say had Cassidy not jumped he would have met an almost-certain death. As it was, the train just clipped Cassidy's ankle as he stayed on a ledge in the two-foot gap between the wall and the train.
A review of LRT security video showed a man, an apparent total stranger, moving closer to Cassidy and timing his movements with the approaching train.
Witnesses to the incident were initially too stunned to react. The suspect calmly turned and was on an escalator before someone yelled: "grab that guy!" When the train finally stopped, Cassidy jumped over the coupler between two cars and ran up the escalator where witnesses were holding the suspect.
A citizen's arrest was made and LRT security soon arrived followed by the police. Police went through the man's pockets and found a note that raised questions about the man's mental health.
Police charged Keith Reginald Fairfax, 40, with attempted murder and aggravated assault. When Fairfax appeared in provincial court he started rambling about how he was under surveillance by George Bush and Saddam Hussein.
A provincial court judge ordered Fairfax to undergo a 30-day psychiatric examination at Alberta Hospital. After an appearance in court March 9th, 2006 Fairfax was ordered held for a further 30 days. His next court appearance was set for April 7th.
The incident was the second in just over five years where a rider was pushed onto LRT tracks by a stranger.
On November 5th, 2000 Lisa Albrecht, a pregnant 22-year-old woman, was pushed from the platform at University station in front of an oncoming train. Albrecht escaped serious injury by crouching and rolling between the two sets of tracks. The front of the lead car stopped about 15 centimeters short of her head.
Gordon Bernard Merrick, 38, later claimed in court he pushed Albrecht because God had told him to. A judge found him not guilty of attempted murder by reason of mental disorder. He had claimed he was acting "on the command of the god."
Cassidy says Edmonton Transit needs to do more to beef up security and would feel more comfortable if there were security officers posted at every station. An ETS spokesman said the system is in the process of beefing up security.
In January, 2006 the City of Edmonton asked the Solictor General of Alberta to grant transit security officers special constable status, allowing them to carry a prohibited weapon, mostly likely pepper spray, as well as a collapsible baton.
Edmonton Transit already has safety features in LRT stations, including 24-hour video cameras and emergency phones.