An 18-year-old suspect was busted in the terrifying sexual assault of a younger teen in a Bronx park this week, cops said early Friday.
Rahmel Bali was busted Thursday night in connection to the 2:30 p.m. Monday assault on the 13-year-old victim, who was walking home from school, authorities said.
The victim — who uses gender-neutral pronouns — was walking in Crotona Park when Bali suddenly grabbed the child, threw them to the ground and pulled off their leggings, according to police.
Bali then sexually assaulted the teen, cops said.
He snatched the victim’s cellphone before fleeing, police said.
The victim was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation and was subsequently released.
Bali, who lives blocks from the park and was picked up off a Crime Stoppers tip, was charged with criminal sexual act, attempted sex abuse, criminal obstruction of breathing, assault, and harassment, cops said.
He had been arrested for burglary and other offenses when he was a juvenile, though a total number of prior busts wasn’t immediately available.