Central Park rape suspect arrested at Miami Burger King, linked to two other assaults
Dereck Rivera-Deleon, wanted for a knifepoint rape in Central Park, was arrested in Florida and faces charges in two additional cases dating to 2021.
Central Park rape suspect caught working at Miami Beach Burger King
A man sought in connection with a knifepoint sexual assault in Central Park last month has been arrested in Florida and will face charges in two further rape cases linked to the same Manhattan park, the NYPD announced, as reported by abc7ny.com.
NYPD detectives working with the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force took Dereck Rivera-Deleon into custody on Tuesday at a Burger King on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach. Authorities said Rivera-Deleon was held for an extradition hearing in Miami on Wednesday.
Investigators allege Rivera-Deleon raped a 39-year-old woman in Central Park on 24 October, approaching her near East 67th Street and East Drive at around 8:30 p.m., displaying a knife before sexually assaulting her. The victim was taken to hospital in stable condition; the suspect fled on foot. He will also be charged in separate rapes that occurred in the park on 18 July 2021 and 6 October 2023. Police said all three cases are being investigated as stranger rapes.
Rivera-Deleon, a Bronx resident, left New York following the October attack. Detectives located him in Florida through his cellphone. DNA evidence has linked him to at least one of the cases, and positive identifications from victims have been obtained in two of the incidents. Authorities are also examining whether he may be connected to other crimes in New York City and Miami.
The October assault prompted a citywide search and increased police patrols throughout Central Park. Surveillance images and video of the suspect were released as part of the investigation. Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the attack as "horrific" and said every New Yorker should be able to walk safely anywhere in the city.
Following the latest arrest, the NYPD said charges have now been brought in four of the five reported rapes in Central Park this year. Major crime in the park is up 17% on the year, driven by increases in rapes and robberies. The park also recorded its first homicide in at least a decade during the same period.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)