Teams of police are dispatched throughout the park, carrying flyers with the sketch of the man wanted for assaulting a 23-year-old jogger on March 25.
A celebration by police last week in the speedy arrest of the Forest Park stun gun sexual assaulter apparently came too early—they arrested the wrong man.
After an intensive search, including neighborhood canvassing and the posting of flyers and posters, police arrested Richard Kassebaum, 42, of Howard Beach, for the attack of a jogger who was running through the park shortly before 7:30pm on March 25.
However, on Thursday, they were forced to void the arrest.
Although police were forced to set Kassenbaum free, they were able to connect him to another sexual assault, which occurred less than a week later, within two blocks of the Forest Park attack.
Kassenbaum allegedly sexually accosted a woman who had been doing her laundry in the laundromat where he was working near Woodhaven Boulevard and 86th Street—just two blocks away from the park. After waiting for the woman to finish her wash, he allegedly followed her as she walked down Woodhaven Boulevard and then along 86th Road where he grabbed her from behind and with his arm around her neck, started to choke her. When the woman fell because of him grabbing her, he allegedly grabbed her buttocks and then fled the scene. Brazenly, he returned to the laundromat. He was re arrested and charged with sexual abuse and forcible touching.
A sketch of the man police are seeking in the stun gun sexual assault in Forest Park a little over two weeks ago.
Kassenbaum was recently released from prison after serving a 19-year sentence for murdering his 49-year-old epileptic aunt in her Flushing apartment. Barbara Jacoutot was found in her bed, with multiple stab wounds to her chest.
Meanwhile, police have stepped up their efforts and resumed the search for the man they were originally seeking in connection with the Forest Park attack.
Sector cars are again blanketing the area every day and doing regular runs through the park, dispatched by a mobile command center set up outside Forest Park.
Teams of officers are circulating along all the paths, passing out flyers containing the suspects sketch, warning joggers and other park goers of the impending danger.
Anyone with information on that incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.
