NEW YORK (AP) — A machete-wielding man was arrested after police say he lashed out at a woman in a popular New York City park during the Tuesday lunch hour, wounding her in the arm.
The 31-year-old woman was injured in the apparently unprovoked attack around 11:30 a.m. in Bryant Park in Manhattan, police said. She was taken to a hospital; her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Frederick Young, 43, of Manhattan was arrested on an assault charge, police said. It wasn’t clear if he had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.
Young has 23 prior arrests, including one in 2010 for menacing with a machete, said Robert Boyce, chief of detectives.
Park security officers chased the man after the attack, flagging down police officers nearby who were putting up barriers. The park quickly returned to its normal bustle after the arrest.
Bryant Park, the former home of New York Fashion Week, has seen violence in the past.
A November 2013 shooting at its ice rink injured two people, including a 14-year-old, and sent skaters stampeding to safety. A 16-year-old was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.