Police: Woman raped at knifepoint in broad daylight at St. Mary's Park in the Bronx
NEW YORK - Police a searching for the man who raped and robbed a woman in a park in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx.
As CBS2's Christina Fan reports, photos of the suspect and descriptions of his heinous crime hang outside St. Mary's Park, a normally quiet refuge filled with dog walkers, families, and schoolchildren.
Police say it was somewhere in the park, where a brazen criminal sexually assaulted a 38-year-old woman at knifepoint and then robbed her.
"That's nerve wracking. I feel like I have to get something to protect myself," said Mott Haven resident Desteny Javiar.
Short surveillance video shows the suspect appearing to wait near a building near Beach Terrace and Beekman Avenue around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Police say when she walked outside, he threatened her with a knife, forced her into the park, raped her, and then stole her debit card to make a $3 purchase at a nearby deli.
"As I was coming along the park, I noticed they had yellow tape around," said Cynthia Green.
Green walks through the area almost everyday, and was aghast to find the path she takes is now a crime scene.
"Yes, it's a big concern, because I come through here, I'm a female, and I'm usually by myself," she said.
"You just casually go outside for a walk, a run and you never know what could happen. It's definitely got me on edge," said Mott Haven resident Milan Chaney.
Families say what's even more disturbing is that police routinely patrol the area because of other frequent crime. One woman showed Fan the alcohol sanitizer spray she keeps in her pocket, now doubling as a weapon.
"You don't know who follow you. The police are around, they might not be here on time to help you," said Mott Haven resident Carol Abreu.
Anyone with any 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). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.