Suspect identified in New York ‘lasso’ rape case

Police have identified a man who was seen restraining a woman with a belt before dragging her down a New York street and raping her.

Kashaan Parks, 39, is accused of sexually assaulting the woman around 3 a.m. May 1 near East 152nd Street and Third Avenue in the Melrose section of the Bronx, the NYPD said.

In disturbing surveillance video obtained by News 12, the suspect can be seen chasing the woman down a sidewalk before sneaking up behind her and putting a belt around her neck and pulling her to the ground.

He then looks around before dragging her down the street while tugging at her neck. He dragged the unconscious woman between two cars and sexually assaulted her, police said.

The manhunt for Mr Parks continues and police hope the release of photos and videos of the suspect will lead to an arrest.

The victim, who survived the attack, was able to help police identify Parks based on his distinctive teeth. She described previous run-ins with him in the neighborhood.

“He choked me with a belt because he wanted to demand sex with me in exchange for money,” she said NBC New York.

“And I said no and moved on. So he grabbed me from behind with a choke belt and dragged me to the ground over there by the cars and raped me.”

The victim told NBC4 she was worried the suspect, known in the neighborhood, might strike again.

“I was worried, I have a lifelong fear because he could come along at any time and do something to someone again,” she said.

“It’s not the first time he’s done something like this to a woman. It’s like the second time he’s done this to a woman.”