Jackie Barcliff: Police searching for Occupy protester accused of rape
Metro reported on Tuesday about a woman who was raped and then thrown 20 feet from an elevated park by the South Street Seaport on Monday.
And today, the NYPD released the name and photo of the suspect, who they said is a known member of the Occupy Wall Street movement: Jackie Barcliff.
Barcliff, 44, is accused of forcing his victim, a 56-year-old woman who is also involved in the OWS movement, to the top level of the new Pier 15 park overlooking the East River in Lower Manhattan. Police said Barcliff then raped the woman before throwing her over the railing, causing her to fall to the ground and break her pelvis.
The victim survived, but now police are hunting for Barcliff just days before OWS marks its first anniversary on September 17 — a day that is expected to draw a convergence of protesters in New York.
According to police, Barcliff was arrested for assault and resisting arrest in front of Zuccotti Park in December. Cops said Barcliff then tried to escape after they apprehended him.
According to press releases from the OWS media team, protesters are planning three days of action from September 15-17 to mark one year from the time they first occupied Zuccotti Park. They plan to rally outside the New York Stick Exchange Monday morning at 7 a.m.
