A homeless New York City parolee was arrested after bystanders intervened to stop an alleged attempted sexual assault in Central Park on March 23, 2026. Lateef Caldwell, 30, reportedly approached a 45-year-old woman around 5:40 p.m. and attempted to rape her, according to the New York Post.
The victim, who was wearing a hijab, did not sustain injuries. Witnesses chased Caldwell from the scene until police apprehended him near 106th Street and East Drive. Caldwell faces charges including attempted rape, attempted sexual assault, and sexual abuse.
Repeat Offender Released on Parole After Previous Incident
Caldwell was released on parole last year after a similar incident in April 2022, in which he allegedly tackled a 23-year-old woman and attempted to remove her clothing. He had been residing in a shelter on Wards Island and was on parole until 2029 at the time of the recent incident.
Pending Arraignment and Police Response
Caldwell was scheduled for arraignment on March 24, 2026, on the new charges. The New York Police Department did not immediately provide a comment when contacted by Fox News Digital.
This case underscores concerns about monitoring parolees with prior sexual offense allegations following Caldwell’s repeated encounters with the law.
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