(Rightallegiance.com) – A shocking incident of alleged rape in New York City’s Kissena Park has led to the arrest of an Ecuadorian immigrant, thanks to the bravery and vigilance of local residents. The accused, Christian Geovanny Inga-Landi, 25, was captured by a group of citizens who recognized him from a wanted poster released by the NYPD.
The brutal attack took place on Thursday when Inga-Landi allegedly forced two 13-year-olds, a boy and a girl, into the woods at Kissena Park with a machete-like knife. He then tied their wrists together and raped the girl before stealing their cellphones and fleeing the scene. The traumatized children were discovered by a passerby, who called the police.
The NYPD quickly released surveillance images of Inga-Landi, prompting a massive community effort to locate and apprehend him. “Everybody knew who we were looking for,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. “We had tips coming in actually naming the perpetrator. They knew who he was. They saw him out on the street.”
On Tuesday, local residents Angela Sauretti, 23, and Jeffrey Flores, 24, spotted Inga-Landi at a nearby store and took matters into their own hands. With the help of several other neighborhood residents, they managed to corner him and restrained him as he hid under a car. Police arrived shortly after and arrested Inga-Landi.
In addition to Sauretti and Flores, two other residents, 67-year-old Isabel Caizado and Daniel Ramos, were also involved in the citizen’s arrest. The NYPD confirmed that as many as 10 residents helped detain Inga-Landi until they arrived.
Inga-Landi, who had several low-level prior offenses, now faces a slew of charges, including rape, kidnapping, and endangering the welfare of a child. The incident has highlighted the power of community vigilance and cooperation in preventing crime and bringing alleged perpetrators to justice.