Police are looking for the man who raped a woman in Central Park after walking with her into the park and sitting on a bench with her early Sunday.
The woman was walking on 88th Street near Fifth Avenue around 3:30 a.m., on her way to visit someone at a nearby church that houses homeless people, when the suspect approached her, according to the NYPD. They started talking and were seen on surveillance video walking together. They entered the park near 100th Street and walked along a bike path before sitting down on a park bench.
The suspect then turned violent, police say, dragging the woman onto the grass and raping her. She was eventually able to get away and the suspect fled in the opposite direction.
It's not known if the victim knew the suspect before Sunday. She told police that the man's first name was Omar.
Park-goers who saw police investigating the scene said they were surprised and disturbed to hear about the assault in a usually safe area.
"It's so wonderful to to have this place and something like this...it breaks your heart," said Elizabeth Wilson.
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.