Couple Arrested for Dancing on New York City Subway Platform

We live in a scary world, and New York-based couple Caroline Stern and George Hess can attest to this first hand after being arrested for, wait for it, dancing.

According to the New York Post, the incident took place in July 2011, when the 50-something pair were headed home following a wonderful time at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night's Swing. While waiting for their train at a Columbus Circle subway platform, the couple were overcome to dance when a busking musician began playing steel drums.

"We were doing the Charleston," Stern says, when all of a sudden several NYPD officers approached them. They were told they could not dance on the platform, despite it being nearly empty. The couple were questioned and asked for their IDs. Stern produced a credit card with her photo ID and signature on it, but it wasn't enough, and the pair were asked to go with law enforcement.

"I'm a dentist, and I'm 55, and I got arrested for dancing," Stern told The Post. "It was absolutely ridiculous that this happened."

As things began to take a turn for the worse, Stern's boyfriend Hess began filming the ordeal. "We brought out the camera, and that's when they called backup ... That's when eight ninja cops came from out of nowhere."

Hess was tackled to the floor and handcuffed. Police charged the couple with disorderly conduct for "impeding the flow of traffic," and resisting arrest though all charges were later dropped. Hess and Stern found themselves spending 23 hours in jail following the incident and are now suing the city in Manhattan federal court.

"When you're waiting for the subway late at night, there's not much to do but dance and celebrate life," Stern says, though she probably won't be dancing next to any trains anytime soon.

Remember last year when five people were arrested for dancing in Washington, D.C.? Rewatch the video and get mad all over again.

Watch People Get Arrested for Dancing at the Jefferson Memorial

Watch "Safety Dance"