Man charged after jogger raped in New York City park
WEST VILLAGE, Manhattan (WABC) -- A man is in custody and charged after a woman was attacked and raped as she jogged in Manhattan's Hudson River Park Thursday morning.
According to police, the 43-year-old victim was running in the park near Pier 45 around 5:30 a.m. when a man grabbed her from behind, choked her, and knocked her to the ground.
Once on the ground, he removed her clothes and raped her, investigators say.
Police said the suspect stole her wallet and headphones before fleeing the scene.
The victim then flagged down another jogger who called 911 and she was taken to Lenox Hospital for treatment.
"She was bleeding on her arms," said Gabrielle Sumkin. "She was pretty incoherent. She was clearly very physically and mentally traumatized based off of what happened."
Carl Phanor, 29, was charged with rape, grand larceny, predatory sexual assault and invalid use of a credit card with intent to fraud in Thursday's attack.
Authorities say he was picked up at Port Authority shortly after police say he used the victim's credit card at a Target in Midtown.
Police suspect this is the same suspect who attacked a different woman in the same spot back in March. He may also be the same suspect who attacked a woman on the east side in October.
In the March attack, a man on a bike approached a 39-year-old jogger near Pier 40 before pushing her to the ground, choking her and sexually assaulting her before taking her phone.
Phanor was also charged Thursday in connection to those two attacks.
Police say Phanor has about 18 prior arrests for assault and criminal possession of stolen property among other things.
The victim remained in the hospital Thursday afternoon but is said to be stable and recovering.
Sumkin said she is just glad she was there for another in need.
"It was very disturbing, so it's been kind of a rough day, but I'm really glad that I was able to help her," she said.
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