Suspect Named In Rape Of East River Park Jogger
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Friday identified a suspect in the rape of a jogged in East River Park earlier this week.
Paul Niles, 28, was named as the suspect. He is 28 years old, stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds, police said.
Sources told CBS2 Niles was also arrested on public lewdness charges last month.
Around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, the 26-year-old woman was jogging in the park near Jackson and Cherry Streets on the Lower East Side, when the suspect pulled up to her on a bicycle and motioned for her to be quiet, police said.
The woman turned around and started running in the opposite direction, but the suspect grabbed her hair, put his arm around her throat, and pulled her into the East River Park Amphitheater where he raped her, police said.
The suspect then ran off, police said. The woman was taken to Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital, where she was treated and released, police said.
The attacker stole the woman's cell phone and credit card before taking off on a bike, according to police. As the search continues for him, police have set up flood lights to keep things bright here after dark.
Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.