Woman Fends Off Homeless Rapist In Central Park, Police Say

CENTRAL PARK, NY — A homeless man was arrested Saturday after he was accused of attacking a 44-year-old woman and trying to rape her in Central Park, New York City Police Department officials told Patch.

According to the NYPD, the victim was near West Drive and West 64th Street in Central Park on June 12 at 6:16 a.m. when she was sexually assaulted.

While fighting off the perpetrator, the woman was cut on her head, police said.

Nazzarius Rager, 26, initially ran off, but was arrested on Saturday, police said.

Rager was charged with attempted rape, assault, sex abuse, and unlawful imprisonment, police said.

The woman was taken to a local hospital following the attack, police said.

The assault echoes a similar attack that occurred in Central Park near East 109th Street and East Drive on March 23, when a 45-year-old woman sitting on a bench was assaulted by a man who fled after parkgoers chased him away.

Lateef Caldwell, 30, who was living in a homeless shelter on Randall's Island was arrested and charged with attempted rape, attempted sex abuse, and sex abuse, following the March 23 attack, police said.

This is a developing story and will be updated. For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.