Sunbather, 21, fights off rapist in New York City’s Central Park in broad-daylight
- An unknown suspect approached the victim and ‘exposed himself’
- The 21-year-old victim was able to fend him off and fled the scene
A woman sunbathing in New York City’s Central Park was forced to resist a man who tried to sexually assault her in broad daylight Monday.
Police say the 21-year-old victim was sunbathing alone in the Great Hill section of the park when an unknown man approached her shortly after 1:25 p.m. and “exposed himself.”
βShe screams and gets up to run,β NYPD Chief John Chell said at a news conference Monday night.
‘He tackles her from behind [and] she is able to fend him off.β
The suspect β described as a black man approximately 6 feet tall β then fled south along West Drive, police said.
NYPD Patrol Chief John Chell described how a suspect “exposed” himself to a victim in Central Park on Monday
According to police, a 21-year-old woman was forced to resist the unknown suspect
Police say they have divided the park and are trying to identify witnesses
He is described as having curly hair and was last seen wearing light-colored shirts and shorts. He is also believed to be in his 30s.
The victim was not injured in the attack and searched the area with police in a cruiser to help search for the suspect. ABC 7 reports.
She is now in a local hospital as a precaution while officers from the Special Victims Unit ask her about what she experienced.
She is also expected to work with a cartoonist to make an image of the suspect public.
The victim was sunbathing alone in the Great Hill section of the park when the man exposed himself to her
Officers searched the area for the suspect after he fled
The victim and the police searched the area to track down the suspect
Police say park visitors can expect an increased police presence in the park in the coming days
Meanwhile, police are reviewing nearby surveillance footage in hopes of tracking down the man and have sent more officers to the park.
“Right now we’re searching every part of the park for any witnesses or any evidence we can find,” Chell said.
“We cut the park into pieces and everyone has a piece, and they start looking for witnesses.”
As the investigation continues, police say park visitors may see drones flying overhead and there will be an increased police presence.
But officers say they don’t believe the incident is part of larger criminal patterns.