close
close

Central Park sexual assault: NYPD seeks suspect after sunbathing woman sexually assaulted in Great Hill section of park

NEW YORK — Police are searching for a suspect after a woman was sexually assaulted while sunbathing in New York City on Monday afternoon.

It happened in Central Park near 104th Street and Central Park Drive around 1:30 p.m.

Police said that upon their arrival they were informed that a man had sexually assaulted a 21-year-old woman.

Police are searching for a suspect after a woman was sexually assaulted while sunbathing in Central Park. NYPD officials provide an update.

The victim was sunbathing alone on a grassy area known as the Great Hill Section when the suspect pulled down his pants and attacked her, police said.

She fought the man off, screamed and ran away.

The suspect fled the scene south along West Drive.

The victim searched the park with police in a patrol car to help locate the suspect.

She is currently at a local hospital with NYPD Special Victims Detectives.

Senior police officers are in the park leading the search.

“All of our strategic task forces are meeting in this park right now,” said NYPD Chief John Chell. “We are currently searching every part of the park for witnesses or evidence. We are dividing the park into pieces, everyone is taking a piece and going out to find eyewitnesses.”

Police described the suspect as a man in his 30s, approximately 6 feet tall, of medium build with pearl-colored hair, wearing a light-colored shirt and shorts.

Police said the victim will work with an artist to make a picture of the suspect available to the public.

No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.

Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All rights reserved.