When Charles Barry was arrested in Manhattan on Thursday for allegedly stealing cash from people riding the subway, he knew exactly who to thank for his impending quick release from jail.

Barry, who was arrested for the 139th time, immediately thanked Democrats as police transported him Manhattan Central Booking.



"Bail reform, it's lit! It's the Democrats! The Democrats know me and the Republicans fear me. You can't touch me! I can't be stopped!" Barry yelled, the New York Daily News reported.

"I'm famous! I take $200, $300 a day of your money, cracker! You can't stop me!" he also said.

Barry — who has served six stints in state prison and has been arrested six times since Jan. 1 of this year — was thanking Democrats because their efforts to pass bail reform last year meant that Barry would be released from jail without posting bail because the charges against him are nonviolent.

More from the Daily News:

Since the bail law took effect, Barry has been freed three times on supervised release, which did not require him to post bail. He was convicted of a minor charge of bending a MetroCard in a way that would let him on the subway for free, and sentenced to time served.



Police officials said that under the state's former bail laws, Barry would more likely have been held on bail, thereby increasing the number of days he spent in custody.

New York's bail reform law took effect on Jan 1. Critics predicted it would be a boon for habitual criminals, but criminal justice reform advocates said it would provide relief for vulnerable communities.