What to Know
- Police are investigating a sexual assault near Prospect Park early Sunday morning
- They say a 59-year-old woman was grabbed just after she parked her car and was dragged behind a park bench, where she was raped
- She was taken to the hospital after the attack; police are searching for the unknown man who attacked her
Authorities are looking for the attacker who dragged a woman behind a Brooklyn park bench and raped her over the weekend.
According to police, the 59-year-old victim had just parked her car in the area of Parkside Avenue and Parade Place around 2:30 a.m. Sunday when the unknown man came up behind her, grabbed her around the neck and pushed her up against a parked van at Prospect Park.
The suspect told her he had a knife and a gun and allegedly told her, "I just got out of jail, don't move or I will kill you."
He told her he would hurt her if she didn't comply with him, police said. He then dragged her behind the bench and raped her.
After the attack, the man broke the window of the parked van and forced the woman inside, where he tried to rape her again, police said. He was unable to, cops said, so he stole $10 from her told her to get out.
The attacker then fled on foot.
Local
By the time police arrived at the scene, the white Ford Econoline van was gone. The victim was taken to an area hospital in stable condition.
Heavy police presence was noticeable at the park Monday night as investigation into the attack continued.
"It just makes me a bit nervous, to hear about this more and more, makes me feel a bit more reluctant to walk around here alone," said Flatbush resident Mariana Ossenkop.
"It's petrifying," said another woman who declined to give her name. "I walk these streets, I park down there. I'm walking here at night so that's really scary for me."
The NYPD said it plans to keep officers stationed at the park as they look for the attacker.
The suspect is believed to be around 30 years old and was last seen wearing a bubble coat and white sneakers. The van is white with a green and white logo on the side, police said.
Witnesses are urged to call Crime Stoppers with tips.
