BOSTON (WHDH) -- Police say a man piggybacked his way through a T turnstile without paying, but the man he followed turned out to be an undercover MBTA officer.

The would-be fare evader was caught in action.

Video shows the man in a hood following another passenger very closely to the gate, ready to scoot through without paying. But, he chose the wrong person.

That passenger was an undercover T officer. He identified himself and took the man down.

“[The suspect] 57, of Waltham, was placed under arrest by the officer and transported by MBTA police to MBTA headquarters and booked. He will appear in Boston Municipal Court in the morning,” said Superintendent Joseph O’Connor, MBTA police.

The undercover officer agreed to speak to 7News on the condition his face was hidden.

“I realize there was a male coming up behind me pretty close. As I turned around to inquire what he was doing, the man immediately began to push me while yelling, ‘move, move, move,’ I kind of got him under control pretty quick. I was not injured. I was hit in the face,” said Officer Louis Feliciano, MBTA police.

A lesson to all would be fare evaders: there are cameras -- and more -- watching.

“We utilize both uniformed and plainclothes officers to enforce the fare law.

The suspect has been charged with assault and battery and will appear in court Thursday. He was not charged with fare evasion since he never made it through the turnstile.