Central Park Attempted Rape Suspect Arrested by NYPD

CENTRAL PARK, NY — Police have made an arrest in the attempted rape of a 28-year-old woman who was jogging in Central Park on Monday night. Forest Richardson, 26, has been arrested and charged with attempted rape, robbery, sex abuse, assault and criminal possession of stolen property, police said.

Police said they were able to arrest Richardson by tracking the woman's stolen phone. He was charged at 2 a.m. on Thursday.

The woman was attacked from behind by a man police say isRichardson as she ran at about 9:30 p.m. on Monday, police said. He stole her phone and then attempted to rape her, according to police. The suspect dragged her into a wooded area, but she managed to fight free and the attacker fled, an NYPD spokesperson said. She called 911 and was transported to an area hospital for treatment, police said.

Police brass said on Tuesday they would be stepping up patrols in the park after a recent rash of robberies and the attempted rape.

According to CompStat numbers, there were 15 robberies in Central Park this year through Oct. 9, with five taking place in the last month. The five robberies in the past 28 days, for the time period ending Oct. 9, is a sharp increase from the same period last year.

Robberies are down 34.9 percent overall year-to-date in Central Park, with the seven major crimes down 16.9 percent so far in 2016.

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