Woman raped near Prospect Park, suspect on the loose

November 20, 2018 By Christina Carrega Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Image of rape suspect fleeing the scene near Prospect Park on Sunday, Nov. 18, taken from an NYPD video. Courtesy of the NYPD

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Following the rape of a woman near Prospect Park on Sunday, police are asking for the public’s help to make an arrest.

Around 4 a.m., a 59-year-old woman was approached from behind by a younger man, who put her into a chokehold.

The man, described as black and between 25 and 35 years old, allegedly told the woman that he had a knife and gun on him and threatened to hurt her if she did not comply with his demands.

The woman was pushed against a parked van as the alleged rapist tried to sexually assault her but was not successful in doing so. He then dragged the woman behind a bench near Parkside Avenue and Parade Place along the southern side of Prospect Park and raped her, police said.

Afterward, the alleged assailant broke into a parked white Ford Econoline van with a white logo on its side and pulled the woman inside. There, he allegedly tried to rape her again.

When he was unable to do so, he stole $10 from the woman’s purse, demanded that she exit the van and then fled on foot, police said.

Police released video surveillance of the man, who is between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall, medium build, running along Parkside Avenue. The suspect was last seen wearing a shiny, dark-colored, hooded bubble coat, a dark-colored knit cap, dark-colored pants and white sneakers.

Anyone with information in regard to this 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).

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.