Police Release Video, Sketch Of Suspect In Attempted Rape Of Prospect Park Jogger
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police released surveillance video and a sketch Thursday of a man who they said tried to rape a woman at knifepoint as she was jogging in Brooklyn.
It happened around 5:15 a.m. Wednesday in Prospect Park.
Police said the man zeroed in on the 23-year-old woman, who was jogging alone near the Garfield Place and Prospect Park West entrance.
Detectives said he attacked her from behind, throwing her to the ground. With a knife in his hand, he then told the woman he was going to rape her, police said.
The woman tried to fight him off, struggling with her attacker until he eventually gave up and ran away, police said.
Police said the woman cut her finger during the struggle and was taken to the hospital. She was at home recovering on Thursday.
As CBS2's Raegan Medgie reported, wanted posters were plastered around the surrounding Park Slope neighborhood as police searched for the suspect. Fliers were stapled on trees outside Prospect Park displaying the newly-released sketch.
"I hope he gets caught -- he's a mutt!" said Bill Bullock of Park Slope.
"It makes me worry more for my girlfriend, you know, when she's out," said Clinton Johnston of Park Slope.
Indeed, many residents and visitors have been left on edge following the attack.
"I'm scared for the people that are walking here," said Milana Bubis of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. "But it's an unpleasant feeling."
"Just because a neighborhood is quiet and safe and upwardly mobile doesn't mean you don't have characters who are going to interrupt or interfere," said Wini of Park Slope.
In the surveillance video, the suspect is seen first walking and looking over his shoulder before running from the area near Prospect Park close to the time of the attack, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
"I'd love to see him get caught," said Bill Bullock of Park Slope. "I'd like to catch him."
CBS2 showed a copy of the sketch to some neighbors, and all had the same reaction.
"Hopefully, it's going to bring them closer to finding him and catching him," Bubis said.
"Maybe find out someone that knows him, or find out why -- somebody in the neighborhood recognizes the photo, hopefully," said Johnston.
George Davis showed his children the sketch of the suspect.
"This is a bad man that's in the park," he told his kids. "If you see him, go to a grownup right away and let us know. Never talk to this man if you see him."
He said making his children aware is the best way to protect them.
"They're little humans with their own personalities and they surprise you every day so you can't keep them sheltered," he said.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams also urged the community to do their part as investigators work to find the suspect.
"We want to have a very swift and aggressive response, not only from the police department, but from civic and community groups to catch this person," he said. Wednesday.
He's described as a black man between 5'10" and 6' tall, 180 to 190 pounds with short hair and a goatee. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and black pants with white lettering.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
