Man arrested for raping 13-year-old after local residents discovered him

Police arrested a man accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in a New York City park after community members recognized him and detained him, tying his legs together with a belt, until police arrived.

Geovanny Inga-Landi, a 25-year-old Christian, is charged with rape, robbery, kidnapping, endangering the welfare of children, possession of weapons and sexual abuse.

He is suspected of raping a 13-year-old girl in Kissena Park in Queens last week. He is said to have threatened the girl and a 13-year-old boy with a knife and then tied their hands together with a shoelace.

Police arrested Mr. Inga-Landi early Tuesday morning.

Joseph Kenny, chief of criminal investigations for the New York Police Department, told reporters during a press conference that residents – at least 10 of whom had seen him in their neighborhood – identified Mr. Inga-Landi and called 911.

“At that point, the community tried to detain the offender while he waited for the police,” Mr Kenny said. “He (Mr Inga-Landi) fought with them and the community still managed to detain him until they got there.”

The suspect was later treated at Elmhurst Hospital for minor injuries sustained in the altercation.

Police thanked community members and victims of the crime for providing information about the suspect. Officers went door to door showing surveillance videos of him before his arrest.

NYPD officials said they learned his name through numerous tips from Queens residents and found photos on his social media accounts in which he wore the same clothing he wore during the alleged crime. They also discovered a conspicuous tattoo on his chest.

Mr. Inga-Landi is an Ecuadorian citizen who entered the United States through Eagle Pass in Texas in July 2021. He had never been arrested before in New York City, but he had been arrested in Texas for illegally entering the country, Mr. Kenny said.

Mr Inga-Landi said he knew that “his time in this country was coming to an end and he would have to leave soon,” police said.

Mr Kenny added that Mr Inga-Landi had told investigators he had a drug problem. Officers said they had found the knife he had used to threaten the two teenagers in the park.

The NYPD offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.