A man identified as a suspect in three sexual assault cases occurring over five years within New York City's Central Park was apprehended Tuesday at a fast-food establishment in Miami Beach, Florida, according to law enforcement officials.
Dereck Rivera-Deleon, 30, was taken into custody during a collaborative operation involving the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the U.S. Marshals Service, and Miami Beach police. The arrest took place at a Burger King located on the 1100 block of Washington Avenue.
The NYPD stated on social media, "The NYPD will stop at nothing to get dangerous criminals off our streets."
Investigators successfully tracked Rivera-Deleon to South Florida, where he had recently arrived and secured employment at the restaurant, authorities indicated.
Investigation Leads to Arrest
The arrest followed an extensive investigation into a reported rape on October 24 near the eastern boundary of Central Park in Manhattan. An extraditable warrant was issued on Monday in connection with this particular assault.
Police reported that the attack occurred around 8:30 p.m. that evening, when officers responded to a call regarding an assault near East 66th Street and Fifth Avenue. The 39-year-old victim informed investigators that she was approached by a man who allegedly threatened her with a knife, forced her into a secluded wooded area of the park, and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had previously characterized the incident as a "horrific" act.
Prior Allegations and DNA Evidence
Investigators from the Miami Beach police also linked Rivera-Deleon to alleged sexual assaults in Central Park from 2021 and 2023 through DNA evidence and victim identifications. Authorities anticipate he will face charges related to both of these earlier incidents as well.
"When violent offenders flee to evade justice, we will ensure there is no corner of the country where they can hide," said Ricky J. Patel, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York, in a statement.
Rivera-Deleon has been booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in South Florida. He is currently being held without bond as he awaits extradition proceedings to transport him to New York to face the sexual assault charges.