Central Park Cyclist Hospitalized After Baton Attack, Suspect At Large

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY - A 66-year-old cyclist was hospitalized Thursday after she was whacked in the head with a collapsible baton in Central Park, authorities said.

The cyclist was riding on a bike path near West 96th Street and West Drive inside the park about 2:20 p.m. when she almost collided with a male pedestrian, who was walking along the path, police said.

The man yelled at the cyclist before striking her with the collapsible baton, police said.

The cyclist fell off the bicycle and onto the ground while her 29-year-old daughter, who was also riding on a bicycle and witnessed the incident, attempted to confront the man and recorded a cell phone video of him, police said.

The assailant fled the location soon after, police said.

Medics rushed the cyclist, who sustained a laceration to her head, to Mount Sinai Hospital in stable condition, police said.

The assailant is described as a man about 50 years old with a medium build and black hair. He was last seen wearing sunglasses, a blue t-shirt, tan cargo shorts and gray sneakers. He was carrying a blue hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information in regard to the incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).