A Brooklyn woman assaulted on a city bus last month has voiced strong criticism of the criminal justice system following the arrest of her alleged attacker on new charges. Thomasina Guzman, 62, was attacked on Aug. 19 while riding an MTA bus near Utica and Farragut avenues, according to Brooklyn prosecutors.

Guzman said the woman accused of striking her, Chrissy Payne, should not have been at large given her prior criminal record. Payne, prosecutors noted at her arraignment on Sunday, faced three other open misdemeanor assault cases, including a hate crime charge, before the alleged bus attack. Despite these pending cases, Payne was reportedly not detained and remained free on the streets.

Guzman expressed frustration over the handling of Payne’s prior offenses, warning that the situation posed ongoing risks to public safety. “What are they waiting for? For her to have a weapon the next time and kill someone?” Guzman said, adding that she continues to experience shoulder pain from the incident.

Approximately a month after Guzman’s assault, Payne was accused of attempting to seize a 4-year-old boy from his grandmother on a bench outside a McDonald’s in Crown Heights on Sept. 14. The child was rescued thanks to the quick intervention of the boy’s mother, an off-duty police officer who was nearby at the time, prosecutors said.

Following this latest incident, Payne was arrested and held on $50,000 bail. She was taken into custody and transferred to Rikers Island. The case has renewed discussions about the challenges of managing repeat offenders within the city’s criminal justice system.

Brooklyn prosecutors outlined the progression of charges against Payne but did not comment further on the decision to release her previously. The situation underscores ongoing debate around bail reform and public safety measures as authorities work to balance rehabilitation and community protection.