INWOOD HILL PARK — A woman was allegedly attacked in Inwood Hill Park shortly after 8 a.m. on Saturday by an emotionally disturbed man, police said, and local residents came to her rescue, according to several local internet forums.
Police confirmed the morning assault, which was first mentioned on Twitter and Facebook by residents Rachel Figueroa-Levin and Mike Levin, and chatted about on Facebook community pages including Inwoof, Inwood Community Group and Hudson Heights Community Group.
"She received minor injuries and the emotionally disturbed person was removed to the hospital for treatment," said a police source.
"A homeless man just attempted to strangle a woman in #Inwood Hill Park. Man apprehended. Woman taken away in ambulance," wrote Figueroa-Levin, using her Twitter handle @jewyorican, later adding the man didn't seem to be a regular at the park.
"It wasn't any of the usual park guys," she responded to a commenter on Facebook.
Inwood resident Connie Vasquez said she was in the midst of her dog's morning routine when she heard a woman screaming.
"I was coming from the dog run and heading up to the Isham exit and I heard a woman yelling 'Help me please, someone help me,'" said Vasquez.
She followed the noise, and found the woman and her male assailant, surrounded by eight bystanders, one of whom was holding the attacker to the ground.
"I don't know if he was homeless," Vasquez said, referring to the reports on Twitter. "He looked raggedy," she said. Vasquez said she spoke to the victim, who said she was shaken up but uninjured.
"In a flash, many people were on the phone to the police, who came quickly," Vasquez wrote on Facebook.
It was unclear whether the incident was an attempted strangling, mugging, or another kind of assault, and police could not specify on Saturday.
As of Sunday, no charges had been filed against the alleged attacker, police said.
