Police

Cops: Wading River man attempted to rape woman at gunpoint

Police say a Wading River man held a gun to a woman's head and attempted to rape her behind Wildwood Bowling Alley. (Credit: Google Maps image)
Police say a Wading River man held a gun to a woman’s head and attempted to rape her behind Wildwood Bowling Alley. (Credit: Google Maps image)

Update: These charges were scheduled to be dropped, it was announced in court on Jan. 26.

A 30-year-old Wading River man was arrested on felony charges Thursday for attempting to rape a woman at gunpoint at Wildwood Town Park in Northampton, Southampton Town police said.

Richard Rause allegedly attacked a 30-year-old woman on Wednesday at around 2:15 p.m. by holding a gun to her head, punching and hitting her before attempting to rape her, police said.

The 30-year-old victim was able to “fight her assailant off” and called 911, officials said.

Southampton Town Police, New York State Police, the New York State Police K-9 unit and Suffolk County Police helicopters responded to the scene, at 3939 Lake Ave., but failed to locate the suspect after he fled the area, officials said.

During a subsequent investigation the following day, Southampton Town Police detectives identified Mr. Rause as the suspect and arrested him at his home, police said.

A short time after Mr. Rause was handcuffed and placed in a police car, he exited the vehicle and attempted to escape, but was “apprehended a few seconds later after a brief struggle,” police said.

Mr. Rause was charged with first-degree attempted rape, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and escape in the second degree, all felony charges, officials said.

This story was updated. After releasing information on Friday, police said that the attack took place at Wildwood Town Park, located at 3939 Lake Ave.