A man caught on video slapping a woman in the face during a brawl on the New York subway has had charges against him dropped after investigators determined that he acted in self-defense.
Jorge Pena said he was ‘horrified’ he had to hit a woman, but she gave him no choice.
‘Believe me, if she don't touch me like that... I'm never gonna put my hands on her. Never,’ said Dominican-born Pena.
'I can’t wear my jacket anymore,' said Pena, explaining that he was worried it might provoke an unwelcome response from someone who recognized him from the incident.
Pena moved to New York City from the Dominican Republic to play minor league baseball for the Oakland A's, but his pitching career was sidelined when he injured his leg in 2010.
Howard and Pena were both arrested at the West 4th Street subway station at about 5 a.m. on Saturday along with Howard's friends Kevin Gil, 21, and Shanique Campbell, 20, who had jumped into the fight to support her.
Howard, the woman who was shockingly slapped across the face, has been hit with the most severe charges - felony assault and disorderly conduct. Gil, and Campbell each face misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges.