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Crime & Justice

Man charged with forcibly kissing SEPTA cop

Yesufu Ganiyu, 53, has been charged with assault and related offenses for allegedly kissing a SEPTA police officer against her will Monday.
Yesufu Ganiyu, 53, has been charged with assault and related offenses for allegedly kissing a SEPTA police officer against her will Monday.Read moreSEPTA Transit Police

A 53-year-old man who forcibly kissed an on-duty SEPTA police officer at the 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby on Monday has been charged with assault, harassment, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct, said SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel III.

"That's beyond disrespect," he said of the assault. "That's demeaning and so offensive."

The female officer, who has been on SEPTA's police force for at least 10 years, was in the busy south terminal of the transit hub around 3:30 p.m. when a man identified by police as Yesufu Ganiyu grabbed her and kissed her, Nestel said.

"She started resisting, he continued to attempt to kiss her and then there was a struggle," he said.

The officer was able to push Ganiyu away and call for backup, Nestel said. When she and another officer approached him, he became aggressive with both officers but was placed under arrest after a brief struggle.

Nestel said the officer is physically fine but was definitely rattled by what occurred.

In June 2016 Ganiyu was charged with indecent exposure and open lewdness in Upper Darby, according to court records. The disposition of the case was not listed online.