By Olivia Scheck
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Witnesses apparently did nothing as a homeless man assaulted three sunbathers in Riverside Park Monday, a complaint filed by the District Attorney's office said.
The string of attacks, in which a 49-year-old homeless man allegedly exposed himself, masturbated and attempted to lie on top of his victims, occurred just one week after a Barnard student was knocked unconscious and a second woman beaten in the park. That attacker is still at large.
A homeless man named John Jeter was arrested in connection to the second series of assaults and charged with several counts of attempted rape, sexual abuse and public lewdness. He was indicted Friday afternoon. The attacks all happened in the park in the vicinity of 62nd Street, the New York Post reported.
Jeter began his spree about 11:50 a.m., when he exposed himself and climbed on top of a female sunbather, who was eventually able to fight him off, according to the complaint.
Jeter then remained on the grass, masturbating, he told police.
Less than 2 hours later, about 1:30 p.m., he was at it again, masturbating above a park-goer and attempting to force her hand towards his penis, the complaint said.
The woman escaped, but Jeter continued his attacks, moving on to a third victim, 26-year-old Raili Munson, about 2:45 p.m., the complaint and the Post reported.
Munson was lying on a towel in her bathing suit and listening to an iPod with her eyes closed, when she felt someone hovering over her, she told the paper.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Jeter, shirtless and falling on top of her, according to the Post.
"I was screaming for people to help me but no one came over," Munson told the paper.
Eventually, a city marshal, Jeffrey Rose, spotted Jeter near Riverside Boulevard and 62nd Street, as he staggered after Munson with his pants around his ankles, according to the Post.
Rose and two tow-truck drivers he was with detained him until police arrived, the Post said, doing what no other bystander had in the three hours that Jeter was allowed to roam the park.
