Detectives are questioning a man connected to a brazen Central Park sex assault involving a sunbather last month, police sources confirmed Tuesday.
The man was picked up on July 1 on an unrelated incident but was later determined to be connected to the widely-publicized June 24 incident, according to sources familiar with the investigation. Criminal charges for the Central Park incident were still pending as of midday Tuesday.
During a press conference last month, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell reported that the sunbather, a 21-year-old woman was attacked while relaxing in the Great Hills section of the park, located at West Drive and West 104th Street at around 1:30 p.m. on June 24.
The perpetrator first exposed himself to the sunbather, then moved in on her when she screamed and attempted to flee.
“She screams and gets up to run,” Chell said at a June 24 press conference. “He tackles her from behind.”
Police say the sicko attempted to pounce on the victim, but she was able to fight him off and escape.
EMS rushed the woman to a local hospital for an evaluation. Detectives from the Special Victims Division helmed the case.
Last week, amidst the ensuing manhunt, the NYPD released a sketch of the perpetrator.
