‘Suspect’ questioned in connection with sexual assault on sunbathers in Central Park

Police are questioning a “person of interest” in connection with the attempted rape of a woman sunbathing in Central Park, police sources said Tuesday.

No charges have been filed against the man who police believe attacked his victim on June 24 in the Great Hill section of the park near W. 104th St. and West Drive.

The man being questioned and in custody is a sex offender who has previously been arrested for sexual assault, a police source said.

The 21-year-old victim was sunbathing alone around 1:25 p.m. when the attacker rushed toward the woman and “exposed himself,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a press conference after the attack.

According to police, the woman stood up, screamed and tried to run away, but the man grabbed her.

“She screams and gets up to run away,” Chell said. “He grabs her from behind and she is able to fight him off.”

According to police, the man became frightened after hearing the loud scream and ran down West Drive toward downtown.

The woman was not physically injured but was taken to a nearby hospital for observation, police said.

On Thursday, police released a sketch of the suspect, describing him as black, about 6 feet tall, with a short beard, a hat and a blank look above deep bags under his eyes.