Photo by Síle Moloney
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation have provided an update on what actions have been taken to improve safety in the vicinity of Broadway and West 262nd Street in the North Riverdale section of The Bronx, following the rape of a 13-year-old girl on Election Night, June 23.
As reported, on Wednesday, July 1, police said pursuant to an ongoing investigation, a 36-year-old Yonkers man was arrested and has been charged with rape. He was named as Abundio Hernandez Cantu. The defendant, who, as reported, is under supervised release, was in court for a brief appearance on July 28, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s office. The case was adjourned to October for grand jury action, the DA’s office representative said. Hernandez Cantu is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law. For our previous complete coverage of this crime, click here.
As reported, Katy Diaz-Espinal, a local resident, had previously raised concerns about security in the area, saying, “I personally put in various 311 complaints, wrote to the councilmember [Eric Dinowitz C.D. 11] and the community board [Bronx Community Board 8] about that general area, 261 and Broadway, being unsafe, due to lack of lighting.”
Photo by Síle Moloney
Photo by Síle Moloney
Norwood News did see a working street light close to the northbound side bus-stop when we visited the area in June, but further south of it, it was very dark. Norwood News previously contacted the councilman, Bronx Community Board 8, the NYPD, DOT, City Hall, and the MTA for comment on our initial story. As reported, the MTA referred us to the NYPD. The councilman posted the attached statement on June 30 on social media. We did not receive an immediate response from the others but will share any feedback we receive.
Ed Breen from Community Board 8 said the board had received a request for lighting in the area but that it was received after the board had already submitted all their requests, of which he said they are many on a regular basis, for more lighting in the district.
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance released the following statement on Monday, June 29, “Last week, a girl was assaulted at the northwest corner of Van Cortlandt Park. That our beloved park was the site of such a horrific incident makes us sick with despair. Our hearts go out to the young victim and her family.”
Photo by Síle Moloney
Norwood News was informed that Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers conduct regular foot and mobile patrols throughout Van Cortlandt Park, with an additional mobile spot check during evening hours and that PEP is providing increased attention to the Broadway side of the park.
We were also advised that Parks is also performing ongoing maintenance including trail upkeep, lighting checks, and general grounds care to help keep the park safe and welcoming for all visitors. Parks added that trees in the area were also recently pruned to improve sightlines and reduce hazards.
Source: Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11)
Parks further confirmed that in July, department representatives participated, along with several other city agencies, in the referenced meeting convened by the councilmember to discuss safety concerns in the area.
Year-to-date rapes were up 120% in the 50th Precinct as of June 21, where the rape occurred, compared to the same period last year, while other year-to-date sex crimes in the 50th Precinct were also up 180%, compared to the same period last year.
In the nearby 46th Precinct, year-to-date rapes as of June 21 were up 12.5% compared to the same timeframe in 2025, while year-to-date other sex crimes were up 24.3% compared to the same timeframe last year.
In April, as reported a man was sought for the rape of a 50-year-old woman in Highbridge. In May, a man was sought for following a woman into an elevator in the Melrose section and attempting to rape her. Earlier the same year, a 25-year-old man was charged following the rape of a 16-year-old girl in Fordham Manor.
To report a sex crime to the NYPD, call 911 if you are in immediate danger. For non-emergencies, use the dedicated hotline for the Special Victims Division.
“The Special Victims Unit’s 24-hour hotline is staffed around the clock allowing individuals the ability to report sex crimes and be connected directly and immediately with the appropriate Special Victims Squad who will handle their report,” an extract from the NYPD’s website reads. “To make a report of a sex crime, call our 24-hour hotline at 646-610-7272 or 212-267-7273.”
The extract continues, “The NYPD in conjunction with The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault provides access to the resources and services survivors of sexual violence need in the Sexual Assault Survivor Resource Guide which can be found in every precinct, police service area, and transit district throughout New York City and can also be accessed here.”
The District Attorney’s office also urges anyone who is, or who believes someone they know is, the victim of a sex crime to call the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.
Contact numbers at the Bronx District Attorneys Office, including one for victims of sex crimes, are included below:
| Department | Phone # |
|---|---|
| General Information | 718-590-2000 |
| Bias Hotline | 718-590-BIAS (2427) |
| Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Hotline | 718-838-7344 |
| Civilian Complaint Unit | 718-590-2300 |
| Community Engagement Unit | 718-590-2272 |
| Crime Victims Assistance Bureau | 718-590-2115 |
| Domestic Violence | 718-838-6688 |
| Elder Abuse | 718 590-2260 |
| Immigrant Affairs Unit | 844-590-SCAM (7226) |
| Communications/Public Information | 718-590-2234 |
| U-VISA Hotline | 718-590-VISA (8472)” |
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Sex Crimes Hotline at 1-212-267-7273 or 646-610-7272, the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.
All calls are strictly confidential.
admin
Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.