A New York City police officer was knocked unconscious on the subway tracks at Times Square Thursday morning when he tried to help a homeless man below to safety.
NYPD Emergency Service Detective James Griffin, 41, was attempting to pull a man on the southbound N train tracks to safety at about 7:10 a.m., according to authorities.
The homeless man, described by police as emotionally disturbed, fought with Griffin, causing the officer to fall and hit his head on one of the rails, knocking him unconscious. Fellow police officers rushed to subdue the disturbed man and rescue their colleague.
Griffin was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he regained consciousness and is in stable condition, police said.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly visited the 18-year veteran at the hospital Thursday morning and "found him in good spirits."
The morning rush-hour incident disprupted N and R train service for 18 minutes.
The man on the tracks, identified as 29-year-old Richard Wilcox, was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, obstructing governmental administraion, resisting arrest and criminal trespass.
