Everyone new you meet is a stranger until you get to know them (unless you were introduced). Before any date, you ask questions figuring out basically what kind of person they are and decide if they are safe enough to meet.

Now you are hesitating at this point. So, I would suggest you don’t meet for a date yet, but continue the talking, questioning stage to see if you become confident in him or not.

From what you said, I don’t see any particular red flags. Maybe the poor guy really was attacked in the park. Is there a way for you to confirm that by checking the police records? Maybe Google his name and see what comes up.