Central Park Rape Suspect Arrested Working at Miami Burger King

Central Park Rape Suspect Arrested Working at Miami Burger King

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Miami Beach police arrest Central Park rape suspect

Police arrested Dereck Rivera-Deleon in Miami Beach on Tuesday while he was working at a Burger King, according to reports from NBC New York and ABC7NY.

The 30-year-old man, who has a Bronx address, is a suspect in a knifepoint sexual assault that occurred in Central Park on October 24, 2026, NBC New York reported.

Rivera-Deleon is also expected to face charges related to two other rapes in the park dating back to 2021 and 2023, according to the NYPD.

A multi-year investigation connects three attacks

Investigators have linked Rivera-Deleon to a series of stranger rapes within the Manhattan greenspace. While the most recent attack happened last month, authorities say the pattern of violence spans several years.

Man accused in 3 Central Park rape cases arrested in Miami Beach

According to ABC7NY, the specific dates for the additional charges are July 18, 2021, and October 6, 2023. Police stated that victims in these cases positively identified Rivera-Deleon and that DNA evidence connected him to the crimes.

The October 24 attack involved a 39-year-old woman walking near East 67th Street and East Drive around 8:30 p.m. ABC7NY reported that the suspect approached her with a knife and forced her into a wooded area. The victim was later hospitalized in stable condition, the New York Post reported.

The NYPD identified the suspect through surveillance video and images. The New York Post noted that video captured the man walking with earbuds in his hands, wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants, and a black backpack.

The manhunt ended at a fast food restaurant

After the October assault, Rivera-Deleon fled New York. Investigators were able to locate him in South Florida by tracking his cellphone, according to ABC7NY.

Wabc central park suspect
Photo: abc7ny.com

The arrest was a coordinated effort between the NYPD detectives assigned to the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Miami Beach Police Department. Ricky J. Patel, the U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement that violent offenders will not find a corner of the country to hide.

Rivera-Deleon had been working at the Burger King on Washington Avenue for less than two weeks at the time of his arrest, according to a statement from the company. He is currently being held in Florida pending an extradition hearing in Miami, which is scheduled for Wednesday, ABC7NY reported.

Man accused of 3 Central Park rapes arrested in Miami Beach, police say

Rising crime concerns in Central Park

The arrest comes during a period of increased volatility for the park. Data from the NYPD indicates that the October attack was the fifth reported sexual assault in Central Park this year. This represents an increase from the three rapes recorded in the same period last year, according to the New York Post.

Beyond sexual assaults, ABC7NY reported that major crime in the park is up 17%, driven by increases in robberies and rapes. The area also recorded its first homicide in at least a decade. Following the October attack, Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the assault “horrific” and stated that every New Yorker should be able to walk safely anywhere in the city.

While the NYPD has increased patrols in the park, some visitors expressed a desire for a more consistent security presence. One woman interviewed by NBC New York told reporters that while she does not feel the need for heavy policing during the day, she believes more presence is necessary in the evening.

Authorities are currently examining whether Rivera-Deleon may be connected to other crimes in both New York City and Miami, according to ABC7NY.

Suspect in 3 Central Park rapes arrested working at Miami Burger King

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