Man accused in 3 New York City rapes arrested while working at Miami Beach Burger King, police say
A 30-year-old man accused of raping three women in New York City, including a victim attacked at knifepoint in Central Park last month, was arrested Tuesday in Miami Beach, authorities said.
The Miami Beach Police Department and U.S. Marshals took Dereck Rivera-Deleon into custody near a Burger King across the street from police headquarters. Police said he was wearing a uniform from the restaurant, where he had worked for less than two weeks.
Body-camera video released by Miami Beach police shows officers pointing their guns at the suspect and ordering him to the ground.
"On your face, now!" an officer can be heard shouting in the video.
Miami Beach police spokesperson Christopher Bess said Rivera-Deleon was wanted in connection with the Central Park attack and two other rapes committed in 2021 and 2023.
Following the arrest, the New York City Police Department posted on X that Rivera-Deleon allegedly raped a 39-year-old woman on Oct. 24 and faces charges in connection with two similar crimes. NYPD detectives had previously released surveillance video of the suspect as they searched for him.
News of the arrest brought relief to some women near Central Park, along with concerns about the earlier allegations.
"I feel a bit better that he was actually caught," one woman said.
Another woman who visits the park questioned how the suspect had remained free following the two earlier alleged attacks.
Miami Beach police described Rivera-Deleon as homeless and said they did not know why he had traveled to South Florida.
Burger King confirmed his brief employment in a statement: "This individual worked for Burger King for less than two weeks and is no longer employed. We defer any further questions to local authorities."
Rivera-Deleon was being held at Miami-Dade's main jail pending extradition to New York City, according to Miami Beach police.
Law enforcement officials told CBS News they are also investigating whether he may be connected to additional sexual assaults in Miami and New York City.