Darius McCollum
Encyclopedia
Darius McCollum is a New York
resident with a lengthy arrest record for crimes related to trains and the New York City Subway
system. As of 2010, he had spent more than a third of his life in jail for victimless transit-related offences.
(NYCTA) employees or a related entity (most recently, as an outside safety consultant) for which he has been jailed numerous times. McCollum has been rejected for employment by NYCTA on numerous occasions, although he is reported to know more about the trains, schedules, procedures and rail operations than any current employee.
A prison psychiatrist who did an evaluation diagnosed him with Asperger syndrome
.
McCollum said to have had memorized the subway system by age seven.
In 2000, McCollum "attempted grand larceny" by signing out a train according to proper NYCTA procedure to perform the customary duties (extinguishing track fires, supervising maintenance), and then signing it back in. He was sentenced to a minimum of 1/2 to 5 years in prison by Carol Berkman, who disregarded and disputed his diagnosis of Aspergers though she had no experience in the psychiatric field. In 2005, McCollum was apprehended at a Long Island Rail Road
yard with the keys to an M-7 in his pocket. They had been given to him by his NYCTA friends who had given him their shifts, but he pled guilty to attempting to steal a locomotive and was sentenced to three years in prison. Although he was released from Sing Sing
in 2006, he was reimprisoned for breaking parole after he was found in possession of railroad property, again given to him by NYCTA employees.
On June 13, 2008, McCollum, now 43, was arrested again. He was wearing a hardhat and carrying a knapsack, flashlight and gloves with a Transit Authority logo. He was dressed in the blue T-shirt and work pants typically worn by track workers and was arrested as he tried to enter a restricted area of a midtown station. He was charged with criminal impersonation, criminal trespass and possession of burglary tools—a hammer and screwdriver tucked in his backpack. These 'burglary tools' are also the typical repair equipment that all NYCTA maintenance workers carry. When his mother was interviewed over the telephone, she claimed sadly that "any time Darius [McCollum] wears anything remotely resembling the transit uniform, he gets arrested" McCollum had been released from the Downstate Correctional Facility
on July 3, 2007—nine months after his arrest for violating parole by returning to the city from Winston-Salem, N.C. He was arrested at Penn Station on October 5, 2008, for impersonating a Long Island Rail Road
employee and answering passengers' questions.
On August 31, 2010, McCollum was arrested for the 27th time and charged with grand larceny and possession of stolen property in connection with the theft of a private bus from a Trailways terminal in Hoboken, N.J. According to police, McCollum allegedly boarded the bus at approximately 6:30 A.M. that morning and discovered the keys left in the ignition. McCollum is accused of then commandeering the bus, with the theft reportedly going unnoticed for two hours as McCollum drove around JFK Airport and Jamaica, NY.
McCollum was taken into custody without incident. Police stated McCullom is "very smart, he's not a dumb guy" and that he was a "gentleman" during arrest and processing.
s in trains and stations so that riders could report sightings. Occasionally, McCollum would appear as transit employees named "Morning" or "Manning", who riders invariably experienced as friendly and helpful. The newspapers frequently label him a "subway buff". of which McCollum is "probably the best known" example.
After McCollum used an insanity defense based on Asperger's, he became a folk hero
to people with Asperger diagnoses, especially children, celebrated for his "rebellion against what autistics often call the dreary world of the 'neurotypical
s'". In spite of his diagnosis from several psychiatrists, at least two criminal proceedings this defense was denied as the judge ruled he was "capable of controlling his impulses".
Although his parents, who have moved off to North Carolina
, believe McCollum should leave New York to avoid the temptation of the trains, parole conditions have until recently repeatedly restricted McCollum to remain in New York City. Suggestions from his parents and autism
advocates that the MTA find a way to hire McCollum in some capacity, in the manner of Frank Abagnale
, are rejected by transit officials, who fear legal liability and anti-disability stigma.
A Harper's Magazine
article on McCollum by Jeff Tietz was a finalist in profile writing for the 2003 American Society of Magazine Editors
awards. At the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe, Paperhat Productions of New York mounted a play by Director Jude Domski called Boy Steals Train, based on McCollum's life and letters McCollum wrote to Domski, and described as "pointing a shaming collective finger at a judiciary that refuses to recognize Darius's condition". The play was awarded a Fringe First by The Scotsman
and the troupe won a Best Ensemble Acting Award.
His story was also made into a BBC radio play, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2005.
McCollum's story is featured and he personally appears in Episode 2 of "The Dark End of The Spectrum"http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/features/dark-end-spectrum/index.html - a 2 hour, 2 part, radio documentary that aired on CBC
's radio show Ideas
on June 2, 2008 and again on July 24 (Part 1) and July 31 (Part 2), 2009. In the piece, the author, Bernice Landry, explores how our understanding of autism has taken an about-face in recent years.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
resident with a lengthy arrest record for crimes related to trains and the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
system. As of 2010, he had spent more than a third of his life in jail for victimless transit-related offences.
History
McCollum has been obsessed with trains from an early age, frequently riding various trains around New York for days at a time. His fixation with trains has led McCollum to frequently impersonate New York City Transit AuthorityNew York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
(NYCTA) employees or a related entity (most recently, as an outside safety consultant) for which he has been jailed numerous times. McCollum has been rejected for employment by NYCTA on numerous occasions, although he is reported to know more about the trains, schedules, procedures and rail operations than any current employee.
A prison psychiatrist who did an evaluation diagnosed him with Asperger syndrome
Asperger syndrome
Asperger's syndrome that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development...
.
McCollum said to have had memorized the subway system by age seven.
In 2000, McCollum "attempted grand larceny" by signing out a train according to proper NYCTA procedure to perform the customary duties (extinguishing track fires, supervising maintenance), and then signing it back in. He was sentenced to a minimum of 1/2 to 5 years in prison by Carol Berkman, who disregarded and disputed his diagnosis of Aspergers though she had no experience in the psychiatric field. In 2005, McCollum was apprehended at a Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
yard with the keys to an M-7 in his pocket. They had been given to him by his NYCTA friends who had given him their shifts, but he pled guilty to attempting to steal a locomotive and was sentenced to three years in prison. Although he was released from Sing Sing
Sing Sing
Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services in the town of Ossining, New York...
in 2006, he was reimprisoned for breaking parole after he was found in possession of railroad property, again given to him by NYCTA employees.
On June 13, 2008, McCollum, now 43, was arrested again. He was wearing a hardhat and carrying a knapsack, flashlight and gloves with a Transit Authority logo. He was dressed in the blue T-shirt and work pants typically worn by track workers and was arrested as he tried to enter a restricted area of a midtown station. He was charged with criminal impersonation, criminal trespass and possession of burglary tools—a hammer and screwdriver tucked in his backpack. These 'burglary tools' are also the typical repair equipment that all NYCTA maintenance workers carry. When his mother was interviewed over the telephone, she claimed sadly that "any time Darius [McCollum] wears anything remotely resembling the transit uniform, he gets arrested" McCollum had been released from the Downstate Correctional Facility
Downstate Correctional Facility
Downstate Correctional Facility is a maximum-security prison in the Hudson Valley region of New York.Downstate is a maximum-security prison located along the north side of Interstate 84 in Fishkill, New York. Downstate serves primarily as a classification center, as it the first stop for all new...
on July 3, 2007—nine months after his arrest for violating parole by returning to the city from Winston-Salem, N.C. He was arrested at Penn Station on October 5, 2008, for impersonating a Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
employee and answering passengers' questions.
On August 31, 2010, McCollum was arrested for the 27th time and charged with grand larceny and possession of stolen property in connection with the theft of a private bus from a Trailways terminal in Hoboken, N.J. According to police, McCollum allegedly boarded the bus at approximately 6:30 A.M. that morning and discovered the keys left in the ignition. McCollum is accused of then commandeering the bus, with the theft reportedly going unnoticed for two hours as McCollum drove around JFK Airport and Jamaica, NY.
McCollum was taken into custody without incident. Police stated McCullom is "very smart, he's not a dumb guy" and that he was a "gentleman" during arrest and processing.
Reaction
By the mid-1990s, McCollum "had become a minor cult figure", particularly after the NYCTA posted thousands of wanted posterWanted poster
A wanted poster is a poster distributed to let the public know of an alleged criminal whom authorities wish to apprehend. They will generally include either a picture of the alleged criminal when a photograph is available, or of a facial composite image produced by a police artist...
s in trains and stations so that riders could report sightings. Occasionally, McCollum would appear as transit employees named "Morning" or "Manning", who riders invariably experienced as friendly and helpful. The newspapers frequently label him a "subway buff". of which McCollum is "probably the best known" example.
After McCollum used an insanity defense based on Asperger's, he became a folk hero
Folk hero
A folk hero is a type of hero, real, fictional, or mythological. The single salient characteristic which makes a character a folk hero is the imprinting of the name, personality and deeds of the character in the popular consciousness. This presence in the popular consciousness is evidenced by...
to people with Asperger diagnoses, especially children, celebrated for his "rebellion against what autistics often call the dreary world of the 'neurotypical
Neurotypical
Neurotypical is a term that was coined in the autistic community as a label for people who are not on the autism spectrum: specifically, neurotypical people have neurological development and states that are consistent with what most people would perceive as normal, particularly with respect to...
s'". In spite of his diagnosis from several psychiatrists, at least two criminal proceedings this defense was denied as the judge ruled he was "capable of controlling his impulses".
Although his parents, who have moved off to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, believe McCollum should leave New York to avoid the temptation of the trains, parole conditions have until recently repeatedly restricted McCollum to remain in New York City. Suggestions from his parents and autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
advocates that the MTA find a way to hire McCollum in some capacity, in the manner of Frank Abagnale
Frank Abagnale
Frank William Abagnale, Jr. is an American security consultant known for his history as a former confidence trickster, check forger, impostor, and escape artist...
, are rejected by transit officials, who fear legal liability and anti-disability stigma.
A Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
article on McCollum by Jeff Tietz was a finalist in profile writing for the 2003 American Society of Magazine Editors
American Society of Magazine Editors
The American Society of Magazine Editors is an industry trade group for editors of magazines published in the United States. The group advocates on behalf of member organizations with respect to First Amendment issues, and serves as a networking hub for editors and other industry employees...
awards. At the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe, Paperhat Productions of New York mounted a play by Director Jude Domski called Boy Steals Train, based on McCollum's life and letters McCollum wrote to Domski, and described as "pointing a shaming collective finger at a judiciary that refuses to recognize Darius's condition". The play was awarded a Fringe First by The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
and the troupe won a Best Ensemble Acting Award.
His story was also made into a BBC radio play, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2005.
McCollum's story is featured and he personally appears in Episode 2 of "The Dark End of The Spectrum"http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/features/dark-end-spectrum/index.html - a 2 hour, 2 part, radio documentary that aired on CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's radio show Ideas
Ideas (radio show)
Ideas is a long running scholarly radio documentary show on CBC Radio One. Co-created by Phyllis Webb and William A. Young, the show premiered in 1965 under the title The Best Ideas You'll Hear Tonight...
on June 2, 2008 and again on July 24 (Part 1) and July 31 (Part 2), 2009. In the piece, the author, Bernice Landry, explores how our understanding of autism has taken an about-face in recent years.