Miami Beach police arrest New York rape suspect working across from station
Officers handcuffed Dereck Rivera-Deleon in his Burger King uniform after DNA evidence linked him to three sexual assaults in Central Park.
By Alessia Desai ·
Miami Beach police officers surrounded Dereck Rivera-Deleon in his work uniform on Tuesday morning, ending a manhunt that spanned thousands of miles. The 30-year-old man was arrested for being a suspect in three separate sexual assaults committed in New York City's Central Park.
Authorities identified Rivera-Deleon through DNA evidence and victim identifications. The New York investigation lists three incidents: a knife-point sexual assault of a 39-year-old woman in October, and two prior rapes in 2023 and 2021. All three crimes occurred in the popular park.
Rivera-Deleon worked at a fast-food restaurant in South Beach, located near the Miami Beach Police headquarters. Body camera video from the arrest captures the moment officers ordered him to the ground. One officer shouted, "Get on the ground right now! Get on the f'ing ground!" Rivera-Deleon initially appeared confused, asking if he had done something wrong.
"We have a warrant for your arrest. That's it," an officer told him. Rivera-Deleon responded, "But I'm good? Like," before an officer confirmed he was going to jail. The footage shows him in a Burger King uniform, though police noted he supposedly worked at that location.
Christopher Bess, a spokesperson for Miami Beach police, said officials are unsure why Rivera-Deleon traveled to the city. "We don't believe he's been in our city very long, and we don't know why he chose our city," Bess stated. The suspect's workplace was a short distance from the police station.
Handcuffed and flanked by officers, Rivera-Deleon walked across the street to the police headquarters just before noon. He was then transported to Miami-Dade County jail. Bess described the sequence of events as showing a lack of regard for the law, noting the proximity of his job to the department.
Rivera-Deleon is expected to return to New York to face charges for the alleged crimes. His arrest marks the conclusion of the local leg of the investigation that began with evidence collected in Central Park.
