Jermaine Longmire, 43, has priors in New York and a "substantial arrest history" in several other states, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny said.
Police recovered the 21-year-old woman's bikini bottom and Kenny said Longmire's DNA appeared on it.
"She fought back, and she fought back hard," Kenny said. "Physically struggle with the perp while screaming for help, it is believed that her actions caused the attacker to climb off of her and run away."
Police say during the manhunt, in the hours right after the attack, they were able to identify Longmire in surveillance video from a nearby business.
"This image was submitted to our facial recognition system, which produced a match," Kenny said. "It is important to note that any facial identification match is not considered enough evidence to establish probable cause for an arrest. This is merely a clue."
That match to Longmire also turned up an open bench warrant for a groping incident at the 103rd Street and Central Park station back in March that was caught on surveillance video.
"Armed with this information, members of the fugitive enforcement unit located and apprehended Longmire for this open bench warrant on June 26," Kenny said.
Longmire has been charged with attempted rape and sex abuse, both felonies, by the Manhattan District Attorney's office. He pleaded not guilty and was held without bail, despite his defense attorney asking for bail be set at $1 and for supervised release at the homeless shelter where he lives.
"As alleged, Jermaine Longmire attempted to rape a woman in Central Park while she was sunbathing last month. Our parks should be a place where New Yorkers can relax without fearing for their safety, and this alleged conduct will not be tolerated," Manhattan District Attorney Bragg said. "Our Special Victims Division has the resources to both hold offenders accountable and support survivors as they heal; please call us at 212-335-9373."
The suspect was already in custody at Rikers Island after he was charged with groping a 27-year-old woman on a southbound A train platform on the Upper West Side on June 15.
In that case, Longmire is accused of coming up behind the victim and putting his hand under her dress.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said more cameras are coming to Central Park, specifically in unlit areas that tend to be favored by criminals.
After the holiday weekend, the NYPD will start installation of those cameras which will stay up in Central Park permanently.
Longmire is due back in court in the Central Park case on July 10.
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