- An unidentified suspect approached the victim and ‘exposed himself’
- The 21-year-old victim managed to defend himself and fled the scene.
A woman sunbathing in New York City’s Central Park was forced to fight off a man who tried to sexually assault her in broad daylight on Monday.
Police say the 21-year-old victim was tanning alone in the Great Hill section of the park when an unidentified man approached her shortly after 1:25 p.m. and “exposed himself.”
“She screams and gets up to run,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a news conference Monday night.
“He attacks her from behind (and) she is able to fight him off.”
The suspect, described as a black man who is approximately six feet tall, fled southbound on West Drive, police said.
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell described how a suspect “exposed himself” to a victim in Central Park on Monday.
Police say a 21-year-old woman was forced to fight the unidentified suspect.
Police say they have divided up 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 drove around the area with police in a patrol car to help search for the suspect. ABC 7 Reports.
He is now in a local hospital with extreme caution, while agents from the Special Victims Unit ask him about what he experienced.
He is also expected to work with a cartoonist to make public an image of the suspect.
The victim was tanning 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 scene.
The victim canvassed the area with police officers to help locate 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 locating the man and have deployed more officers to the park.
“Right now, we are searching every part of the park for witnesses or any evidence we can find,” Chell said.
“We’re cutting the park into pieces and everyone has a piece, and they’re going to look for witnesses.”
As the investigation continues, police say park visitors can expect to see drones flying overhead and an increased police presence.
But, officers say, they do not believe the incident is part of any larger criminal pattern.
