Central Park Rape Suspect Is Arrested, Police Say

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Police have arrested a 25-year-old man who they say committed the brazen sexual assault in Central Park this week.

Paulie Velez, who is listed as homeless, was taken into custody just before 1 a.m. Saturday in Lower Manhattan, police said. He faces charges including rape, strangulation, robbery and sexual abuse.

The arrest came days after police released surveillance images showing the suspect in the disturbing attack. The images showed a man wearing all-black clothing and a black face mask — fitting the description that police gave of the man who attacked a 27-year-old woman inside the park around 7:20 a.m. Thursday.

The woman was walking on a footpath near Swan Lake at the park's southern end when the man came up from behind and began strangling her, leaving her unconscious, police said. He then raped her before fleeing, NYPD Inspector Michael King told reporters Thursday.

After regaining consciousness, the survivor asked another parkgoer for help, and the two called 911, King said.

Previous photos shared by police Thursday evening showed the suspect entering a subway station near Central Park.

In what now appears to be an unfortunate coincidence, another woman reported being assaulted about 45 minutes later in a different part of Manhattan: a footbridge near East 103rd Street and the FDR Drive. Police initially said they were trying to determine whether the two attacks were connected.

Police arrested a suspect in that assault: a 38-year-old man with a prior conviction for rape, authorities said.

UPDATE: The individual below has been arrested and charged for this crime. https://t.co/JDqcC7C1z2
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 13, 2021

Previous coverage:

• Woman Raped In Central Park, Another Assaulted Near East River
• Central Park Rape: Photos Of Suspect Released