Dereck Rivera-Deleon, a 30-year-old man wanted for a knifepoint sexual assault in New York City’s Central Park, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday by law enforcement officers while working at a Burger King in Miami Beach.
Police Arrest Fugitive at Burger King
Law enforcement officials apprehended Rivera-Deleon on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, in the 1100 block of Washington Avenue, according to the U.S. Marshals Service and the New York City Police Department.
NYPD detectives assigned to the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force tracked the suspect down through his cellphone.
NYPD detectives assigned to the U. S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force with support from @USMarshalsHQ partners took Dereck Rivera-Deleon into custody today while he was working at Burger King in Miami for allegedly raping a woman in Central Park on October 24, 2026.…
DNA Links Suspect to Prior Attacks
Police state that Rivera-Deleon is responsible for the October 24, 2026, assault of a 39-year-old woman near East 67th Street and Fifth Avenue.
According to investigators, the victim was walking inside Central Park around 8:30 p.m. when the attacker displayed a knife, dragged her into a wooded area, and sexually assaulted her before fleeing on foot, as detailed by ABC7 New York.
A bystander who witnessed the attack called 911, and paramedics transported the victim to a local hospital in stable condition, according to amNewYork.
Beyond the October attack, authorities announced that Rivera-Deleon will be charged with two additional rapes that occurred in Central Park on July 18, 2021, and October 6, 2023, as reported by NBC New York.
Miami Beach Police and department sources confirmed that DNA evidence and positive identifications from victims connected Rivera-Deleon to these crimes, which police are investigating as stranger rapes.
Suspect Awaits Extradition to New York
Rivera-Deleon, who previously lived in the Bronx, is being held in Miami-Dade County while awaiting an extradition hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
Ricky J. Patel, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York, emphasized federal and local cooperation in a statement published by the New York Daily News:
When violent offenders flee to evade justice, we will ensure there is no corner of the country where they can hide.
When Rivera-Deleon will actually be returned to New York to face these charges remains unknown while he is held for the extradition hearing.
Earlier coverage: U.S. Marshals arrest juvenile fugitive Wanted in Boston double murder
