A homeless man on parole in New York City has been arrested again after allegedly trying to sexually assault a woman in Central Park, a popular tourist spot. This incident comes just months following his release for a similar crime.
On Monday at approximately 5:40 p.m., 30-year-old Lateef Caldwell reportedly approached a 45-year-old woman in the park. It’s said he attempted to rape her, but thankfully, a group of bystanders intervened and chased him away.
According to reports, Caldwell fled but was soon apprehended near 106th Street and East Drive. After his arrest, he faced several charges, including attempted rape, attempted sexual assault, and sexual abuse. Interestingly, the victim was wearing a hijab at the time but thankfully wasn’t injured.
This isn’t Caldwell’s first encounter with the law. He was released on parole last year for a similar incident in April 2022, where he allegedly assaulted a 23-year-old woman. As per reports, he has been granted parole until 2029.
After his latest charges, Caldwell is expected to be arraigned soon. It’s a sobering reminder about the complexities of the justice system and the challenges it faces when dealing with repeat offenders.
The NYPD has not provided immediate comments on the situation.
