A man suspected of raping a teenager in a Bronx park earlier this week was apprehended by vigilant police officers on Friday.
Xavier Chapman, 30, reportedly exposed himself while seated on a bench at Park Avenue and East 183rd Street in Belmont around 3 a.m. on Wednesday. The attack involved a 19-year-old victim, who was a complete stranger to him.
He then restrained the victim and forced her against her will.
The following day, the NYPD released surveillance footage showing the suspect walking down the sidewalk with his hood up and dressed in all black.
This video ultimately aided the NYPD warrant division, allowing them to track Chapman through an “extensive video canvas,” according to sources.
Chapman faces charges of rape, sexual abuse, and harassment, according to police.
He has a prior arrest on record—specifically for public indecency—in which he allegedly exposed himself at a man’s apartment door back on April 20. Prosecutors indicated that he received a desk appearance ticket for that incident.
Chapman pleaded not guilty to the charges from May, and in July, that case was postponed as a result of his potential dismissal, the district attorney’s office noted.
This latest incident of rape occurred on Broadway near 230th Street, which is west of Kings Bridge. This attack came a day after a separate incident involving 42-year-old Nicholas DeJesus, who allegedly assaulted and raped a 33-year-old woman, also a stranger. DeJesus, currently on parole for robbery, was arrested about 12 hours post-attack and now faces charges including rape, sexual abuse, assault, and harassment, per the police.
Recent NYPD statistics reveal that rapes in the Bronx have surged by 27.5% this year, with 380 reported incidents compared to 298 from the same period in 2024.
Citywide data reflects a similar trend, showing 1,484 rapes reported thus far this year—a 21% increase from the 1,182 reported during the same timeframe in 2024. The NYPD suggests this escalation may be partially linked to “legislative changes” that expanded the definition of rape and include “additional forms of sexual assault.”
