By USA Daily Now 
In a shocking midday attack that has left a Bronx neighborhood on edge, a 50-year-old career criminal with a lengthy rap sheet allegedly attempted to rape a 70-year-old woman in broad daylight. The incident, which occurred on Friday, April 18, near Creston Avenue and East 184th Street, was met with swift and decisive action by outraged local residents, who reportedly tracked down and severely beat the suspect the following day.
According to a New York City Police Department (NYPD) press release, the suspect, identified as OSWALDO RAMOS, approached the elderly woman from behind and attempted to sexually assault her before fleeing the scene on foot. The NYPD released surveillance video showing Ramos moments after the alleged assault, scrambling to pull his pants back on. The footage, part of the department’s public appeal for assistance in identifying the suspect, quickly circulated online and among local residents.
The video proved instrumental in helping neighborhood vigilantes identify Ramos. On Saturday, they cornered him near Tiebout Avenue and East 187th Street—just blocks from where the attempted rape occurred—and beat him so severely that he was hospitalized, according to the New York Post.
“Yeah, we beat him up,” one local resident told the Post, requesting anonymity. “You don’t do that, that’s something you don’t do. And if he comes back, I’m going to rock him again.” Another neighbor echoed the sentiment, stating, “We don’t tolerate that kind of stuff around here.” Others in the area reportedly comforted the elderly victim immediately after the assault.
Ramos, who remained at large for roughly 48 hours after the attack, was eventually charged with first-degree attempted rape and burglary. Law enforcement sources confirmed that Ramos remained hospitalized as of Tuesday and had not yet been arraigned. The extent of his injuries has not been disclosed.
OSWALDO RAMOS has a long and troubling criminal history, with 19 prior arrests, mostly for robbery and burglary. In one 2018 incident, he allegedly stormed into a Bronx deli, claimed to have just shot a police officer, and demanded money. Authorities later confirmed that no officer had been harmed. Despite his extensive record, Ramos was free to walk the streets—until the community decided they’d had enough.
The NYPD continues to seek additional information related to the assault. Anyone with tips is urged to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submit tips anonymously online at [https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org](https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org).
**Sources:**
[NYPD Press Release](https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/index.page)
[New York Post](https://nypost.com)