Mr. Shankman, who is an “author, entrepreneur, speaker, and worldwide connector,” and founder of Help a Reporter Out, was stopped by cops around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday near 85th Street on the park’s East Side.

He said he was training for the Ironman Triathlon and getting his 10 miles in before his morning meeting, Mr. Shankman wrote on Facebook.

But apparently, Central Park is closed between 1am and  6am, making his early morning run a criminal act.

Mr. Shankman claims there were no signs, gates, or traffic cones indicating that the park was closed.

“Note – Running in the park. Not ‘performing sex acts for crack,’ or ‘laying down explosive charges,’ but ‘running.’ Because apparently, a 215 pound man running through Central Park at just over a 9:10 pace is a threat to Manhattan,” he posted on Facebook.