WILDING |
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Gang Attacks Women in N.Y. Park During Weekend of Violence By Christine Haughney NEW YORK, June 12 –– Following a weekend of unusual violence here, police are investigating a frightening series of assaults in which a group of men robbed, stripped or sexually abused six women in well-traveled parts of Central Park, one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. The attacks followed Sunday's annual Puerto Rican Day parade. Hundreds of thousands of celebrants crowded Manhattan's streets in steamy heat to wave flags and cheer floats filled with Puerto Rican celebrities and local political leaders, including rival Senate candidates first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. Rick Lazio (R-N.Y.) Following the parade early Sunday evening, a gang of about 15 men attacked Central Park visitors of varied races and nationalities, police said. In the course of an hour, the suspects sprayed water on two teenagers from Long Island, then robbed, stripped and fondled them. They then robbed and fondled a 28-year-old French woman while other suspects held back her husband, police said. The group of men also attacked three teenage girls visiting from England. One of the women from an earlier attack identified two of the suspects while searching the park with police. Officers arrested David Rowe, 24, of Hempstead, on Long Island, and Tremayne Bayne, 23, of Brooklyn. Both men are being held on robbery and sexual abuse charges. Police are still looking for other suspects. New York Police Commissioner Howard Safir told the Associated Press that crime in the 840-acre park is down this year, but added, "If I put 10,000 cops in Central Park, we couldn't cover every single area." The attacks in daylight reminded some of a 1989 incident in which a gang of youths beat up joggers and other individuals in the park, an activity the teens called "wilding." In the most serious case, five teenagers were convicted of assault or rape in connection with an attack on a female jogger. In the 1989 incident, the suspects were black and the victim was white. But police here said Sunday's attacks do not appear to be racially motivated because the men had attacked women of "various ethnic groups," said Sgt. Brian Burke. The attacks in Central Park were only part of the violence in the city. Between Friday night and Sunday, New York City police reported that six people were killed and 59 other people were stabbed or shot. At Coney Island, eight Hasidic men were beaten, stabbed and called anti-Semitic names by another group of men while walking along the boardwalk. A large number of these crimes, including stabbings and drive-by shootings, erupted after Sunday's parade. New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani told reporters today that crime in the city is down from last year, and considerably lower than a decade ago. "I don't know if I'm concerned with public perception," Giuliani said. "I'm concerned with reality." © 2000 The Washington Post Company |
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