Sex offender arrested in rape at Seattle park

SEATTLE — According to court records, 25-year-old Coty Durand Kelly has sexually assaulted a woman before. He is now accused of raping a woman along the bike trail in Myrtle Edwards Park at about 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

When KIRO 7 arrived, the victim was being shielded by the park rangers, who helped police catch her alleged assailant.

According to a witness who did not want to be identified, a park ranger was stopped by someone who said someone else was being chased in the park.

The rangers noticed a man who seemed disoriented and was acting suspicious. They followed him all the way into the neighboring Olympic Sculpture Park. By then, Seattle police officers had arrived at the park, too.

The officers joined the walking pursuit of Kelly.

When he tried to get money out of a parking meter in the Sculpture Park's underground garage, Seattle police arrested him.

Two years ago, Kelly was convicted in Seattle of first-degree criminal trespass. Then last year, he was convicted in Thurston County of third-degree rape.

Even as Kelly was being taken into custody, people kept showing up at the park. In fact, they didn't know about the attack until we told them.

"Oh, wow!" said Sandra Loza, a runner from Seattle. "I'm really just more shocked right now more than anything."

"It doesn't make me feel any less safe," said Deborah Tompkins, new to Seattle and a runner, too. "It's not going to bother me."

The victim was taken to Harborview Medical Center to be examined.

 Kelly is expected in court Monday.

KIRO