The subway conductor allegedly assaulted by an off-duty NYPD officer on a J train this week spoke to reporters Friday about what happened and her decision to pull the train's emergency brake. NY1's Matt McClure filed the following report.

Kiyya Rivera has been a subway train conductor for a little more than three years.

Wednesday morning, she was working on a J train in Lower Manhattan.

Rivera says it started off like any other day at work.

"And I came across this gentleman who seemed to be angry," she said.

That man turned out to be off-duty NYPD officer Tremel Davis.

Rivera was working on an older subway train that day and had to change cars between stops. At one point, she says, Davis blocked the door.

"I explained to him that he wasn't supposed to be standing at the door. It's a safety issue for him to stand there," she said. "He told me that I was rude."

After the train stopped at Essex Street, Rivera says she had to move between two cars again. When she moved to grab the door handle, she says Davis attacked her.

"He put his forearm out like this and shoved me way back in the cab," she said. "I fell against the wall in the cab, and at that time, I didn't know what to do because he just stood there."

"I'm the one that pulled the emergency cord on the train," she added.

The MTA advises passengers to pull the cord only in life-threatening situations or if the train is in a station. Rivera says she knew it was the right thing to do.

"The train still had three cars in the station," she said. "And if I needed help, that was the right time to do it."

Emergency crews were able to get to her and take her to the hospital. She was treated for a minor injury to her left arm.

Rivera says she's physically feeling OK but is shaken up. She does not know when she'll be able to return to work.

"I'm still very frightened," she said. "I'm starting to have issues with crowds and people being too close to me."

Davis was charged with assault and suspended without pay.

The NYPD says he was already on modified duty before this incident after being charged with acting in a manner injurious to a child in connection with a domestic matter six months ago.

William Bratton says Davis should not have done what he did, but the department is not commenting further.