One of the SEPTA 48 that each took home about $2.4 million after hitting the Powerball jackpot is accused of threatening SEPTA’s own police chief.
The district attorney has charged one of the 48 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority workers who split a $107.5 million Powerball jackpot last year with threatening the transit agency's police chief at the agency's Philadelphia headquarters.
Online court records don't list an attorney for 44-year-old Joseph Byrd, a SEPTA custodian who lives in West Philadelphia.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Philadelphia Daily News, Byrd -- who was on medical leave at the time -- came to SEPTA headquarters on Feb. 18 and “complained loudly about tax paperwork.” Byrd split last April's lump-sum jackpot with 47 other workers, but had remained with SEPTA.
SEPTA police Chief Thomas Nestel says Byrd resisted police and threatened to shoot him in the face during the incident, which Nestel said was surprising.
"It was extremely usual," Nestal told the paper. "He's a very likable guy."
Byrd faces an April 15 preliminary hearing after posting bail.
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SEPTA had no comment on the incident.
