Local Woman Charged with Pepper-Spraying Conservative Influencer on SEPTA Bus After Viral Video Sparks National Attention
A 22-year-old woman has been charged with multiple crimes after pepper-spraying a conservative influencer during an argument on a Philadelphia subway bus. The incident, which was captured on cellphone video and shared widely on social media, drew criticism from conservative groups and sparked calls for the charges to be dropped.
Paulina Reyes, who is still in college, allegedly sprayed Frank Scales, 22, with pepper spray after he refused to stop filming her during an argument on January 19th. The video shows Reyes becoming increasingly agitated before attempting to pepper-spray Scales twice. In the edited version of the video, Reyes accuses Scales of using his platform to insult Muslims, Black people, and Mexicans.
The incident occurred on SEPTA bus 2312 in South Philly, after which it was investigated by SEPTA Transit Police. The case has now been taken up by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, with mass transit prosecutor Michael Untermeyer handling the case.
"This case is a reminder that violence will not be tolerated as a means to conduct political debate, protest, or exhibit differences," said Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Weigel. "This type of violence is senseless, and we have an individual facing criminal charges over political disagreement."
Reyes faces multiple charges, including simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct, and possession of an instrument of crime. She was arraigned on Thursday morning and released on her own recognizance, with a court appearance scheduled for March 3rd.
The incident has sparked controversy in the Philadelphia DA's office, where Reyes is a former intern at WHYY. District Attorney Larry Krasner has been a vocal critic of conservative groups and politicians, and his office has taken a strong stance against hate speech and violence.
Reyes' actions have drawn comparisons to those of anti-fascist activists, who often use nonviolent tactics to counter right-wing extremism. However, the incident has also raised questions about the limits of free speech and the role of social media in amplifying extremist views.
The case is likely to be closely watched by experts on hate speech and violent extremism, as well as by those interested in the intersection of politics and online discourse.
A 22-year-old woman has been charged with multiple crimes after pepper-spraying a conservative influencer during an argument on a Philadelphia subway bus. The incident, which was captured on cellphone video and shared widely on social media, drew criticism from conservative groups and sparked calls for the charges to be dropped.
Paulina Reyes, who is still in college, allegedly sprayed Frank Scales, 22, with pepper spray after he refused to stop filming her during an argument on January 19th. The video shows Reyes becoming increasingly agitated before attempting to pepper-spray Scales twice. In the edited version of the video, Reyes accuses Scales of using his platform to insult Muslims, Black people, and Mexicans.
The incident occurred on SEPTA bus 2312 in South Philly, after which it was investigated by SEPTA Transit Police. The case has now been taken up by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, with mass transit prosecutor Michael Untermeyer handling the case.
"This case is a reminder that violence will not be tolerated as a means to conduct political debate, protest, or exhibit differences," said Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Weigel. "This type of violence is senseless, and we have an individual facing criminal charges over political disagreement."
Reyes faces multiple charges, including simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct, and possession of an instrument of crime. She was arraigned on Thursday morning and released on her own recognizance, with a court appearance scheduled for March 3rd.
The incident has sparked controversy in the Philadelphia DA's office, where Reyes is a former intern at WHYY. District Attorney Larry Krasner has been a vocal critic of conservative groups and politicians, and his office has taken a strong stance against hate speech and violence.
Reyes' actions have drawn comparisons to those of anti-fascist activists, who often use nonviolent tactics to counter right-wing extremism. However, the incident has also raised questions about the limits of free speech and the role of social media in amplifying extremist views.
The case is likely to be closely watched by experts on hate speech and violent extremism, as well as by those interested in the intersection of politics and online discourse.
. On one hand, we have the right to express our opinions and engage in debate without fear of retribution; on the other, we also need to acknowledge that certain actions can be hurtful and discriminatory. The fact that Reyes was motivated by a perceived attack on her own identity (being Mexican-American herself) is a nuanced aspect of this case that warrants further exploration 
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. In any case, this incident has sparked a much-needed conversation about our cultural norms around disagreement, activism, and the role of social media in amplifying voices 
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. I mean, I get that Paulina Reyes was clearly upset, but using pepper spray? That's just not okay 
. And to be honest, I'm kinda glad that Frank Scales wasn't seriously hurt. But what really gets me is that she's being charged with multiple crimes... like, isn't that a bit harsh? 
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. And what about the fact that she was filming him on his phone? 
. Let's focus on having respectful debates and using our words, not pepper spray 
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The edited video shows her getting pretty aggro, but I don't think that justifies the law. What if Frank Scales had been recording her instead of the other way around? And what about the fact that this whole thing went down on a public bus - didn't anyone else step in to stop it? 
This whole thing reeks of someone trying to get attention and go viral, rather than actually fighting for justice or equality. We need to keep an eye on this one 
. And what's with all these calls to drop the charges? Did they not see how wrong it was what she did? I get that she's trying to stand up for her rights and all, but there are better ways to do it than causing harm to someone else 
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. gotta be mindful of how we react 2 stuff we disagree with, you feel? 
YOU CAN'T JUST USE VIOLENCE TO GET YOUR POINT ACROSS. IT'S LIKE PAULINA REYES THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO MAKE A POINT BY INTIMIDATING SOMEONE WITH PEPPER SPRAY. GIVES ME CHILLS! 
THE WORST PART IS THAT SHE'S STILL IN COLLEGE AND GOT AWAY WITH THIS. WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND TO YOUNG PEOPLE?
what's up with people thinking it's okay to use pepper spray because they're mad at someone? I mean, I get it, Scales was being super annoying but spraying him doesn't solve anything 
️. Can't we just talk things out instead of resorting to violence 
I mean, I get that Paulina Reyes was super upset with Frank Scales, but pepper-spraying him TWICE?! 
That's just not cool, you know? 
And now she's facing all these charges... simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct... it's like, girl, calm down and talk to someone about your feelings instead of resorting to violence 
Anyway, I think it's great that the AG is taking a stand against violence as a means of political debate... 
we need to be able to disagree without being violent 
it's easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and do something we might regret later. For Paulina Reyes, pepper-spraying Frank Scales was probably the last thing she should've done 
. But now her life is in a whole lot of trouble 
. I mean, what even is the point of filming someone without their consent in this situation? 
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. I'm not saying what he did was okay, but maybe we should focus on teaching people how to disagree respectfully rather than punishing them for it 
... it's not worth the risk, you know?