Pregnant Homeless Woman Busted for Vandalizing Rail Car

Around 6:47 PM on February 19, 2023, Sergeant Jiuseppe Emmolo and Officers Eric Singleton, Christopher Baber, and Brian Zavistoski with the NJ Transit Police Department responded to the 2nd Street Station in Jersey City in search of a woman who was reported to be vandalizing signs on Light Rail Vehicle 5013. As the train approached the station, Officer Singleton first entered the train and made contact with the subject, who was later identified as Amanda Hernandez. Amanda was asked to exit the train and led to sit on a bench so the officers could speak with her further.

After they made contact with the accused vandal, Amanda told the officers that she was pregnant and that another male on the train had apparently forced her to vandalize signs, so she essentially did so under duress. She did not have an official identification card with her, and she stated that she was homeless and spending much of her time on light rail cars to be shielded from the elements. As the officers were investigating the case, one of them recognized from a previous incident about 2 years prior. She also told the officers that she was enrolled in community college and planning to earn a degree in marine biology.

Officer Singleton issued Amanda a citation for Criminal Mischief under 2C:17-3A(1) because she caused less than $500 in damages, along with a summons to appear in the Hoboken Municipal Court. Since she had complained of pain in her ankle and told the officers that she thought she was pregnant, EMTs with Hoboken EMS arrived on scene to evaluate her. After evaluating her, Amanda agreed to be transported to the hospital for further evaluation and the officers ended contact after escorting her to the ambulance rig.

Court records indicate that on October 27, 2023, Amanda was arrested again in Hoboken after threatening someone with a butcher knife in McDonald's. When the Hoboken Police responded, Amanda allegedly assaulted the officers while resisting arrest and making threats against them.

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