Cops arrested an alleged accomplice Friday of the notorious performance artist who unleashed live crickets and worms on a crowded D train, officials said.
Police say Jahkif Wright aided in Zaida Pugh’s sickening stunt, which led a panicked straphanger to pull the emergency brake, stranding the train, overtaken by creepy crawlers, for a half-hour in the middle of the Manhattan Bridge.
Wright, 20, of Brooklyn, is charged with reckless endangerment and obstructing government administration, officials said Friday.
The arrest came as Pugh, 21, free on $5,000 bail, made a brief appearance in Brooklyn Criminal Court, where supporters including her husband and grandfather rallied around her Friday. She also brought her newborn child to court.
Her 75-year-old grandfather, who gave his name only as Ted, bizarrely defended her outside court.
“The charges should be dropped,” he said. “She was out doing good.”
Wright is one of Pugh’s pals who either videotaped her antics or knocked the container with the crickets out of Pugh’s hands and pretended to punch her, according to cops.
He has an open criminal case for gang assault and menacing dating to Oct. 22, 2015, court records show.