UPDATED: VIDEO: Suspect in Custody after Attempting to Knock Down Jewish Woman as part of Gang Initiation

kidnappingPHOTOS & VIDEO: [UPDATED 9:15 AM] A‎ man was arrested a short time ago for an attempted kidnapping, Detective Sergeant Greg Staffordsmith confirms.

The incidents began about 7:30 PM when the suspect allegedly ran after a 16 year old girl in the area of East 5th Street. Police were called but the suspect had fled.

Moments later, police, as well as LCSW, received another call regarding a similar incident in the area of Lawrence Avenue – this time regarding a man who was attempting to lure or follow a mother and daughter, ages 54 and 16.

About 30 minutes later, an LCSW member, Meyer R. – who has assisted police in several previous arrests – spotted what he believed was the suspect’s vehicle.

The member spun around and kept an eye on the suspect, whose plates were partially covered with a tissue or paper. The member, following the suspect from a distance, immediately notified the LCSW dispatcher, who in turn phoned police.

Moments later, multiple officers – including Street Crimes units – cornered the suspect in the area of 9th Street an Clifton Avenue.

Following a struggle with police, the suspect, a Hispanic male, was taken into custody.

“He was bloodied up the time he was in custody,” a witness told TLS.

Dsgt. Stafordsmith says, “At this time the Lakewood Police Department is investigating at least one attempted kidnapping. The investigation is still in its infancy but there is one person in custody.”

UPDATE 11:45 PM. The suspect was identified as 18 yr old Rafael Laurano-Flores of Lakewood.

Detectives from the Lakewood Police Department Street Crimes Unit were able to locate the victims in this case, says Staffordmsith.

“Further investigation revealed that Laurano-Flores’ intention was to touch and knock down a woman from the Orthodox Jewish community as part of a gang initiation,” Staffordsmith says.

He was ultimately charged with Obstruction, Resisting Arrest, Three counts of Biased Intimidation and Three counts of Biased Harassment. Bail was set in the amount of $18,000 without a 10% option by Judge Basen. He is awaiting transportation to Ocean County Jail at this time.

[TLS]

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19 COMMENTS

  1. Great job Meyer!!! A real askan some one who is always out to help the community be it Lakewood or Howell you call for help and he’s there !!!

  2. Does this suspect have any thing to do with the incident which accured this past shabbos morning on miller road by shady lane, that a man got out of his Vehicle and tried to lure a 7 year old boy to his car by offering him lollies?

  3. What color car was he driving? My twins (6 yrs old) were almost kidnapped last week . I had no information from them other then he offered them a lolly tried to grab ones hand , they said he was dark skin and driving a blue car

  4. What area do u live in “@Wow”
    i feel that its very important if we are told about these incidents as they are
    happening like which areas to look for what maybe by informing our local hatzaloh members which we see in shul should they need to warn us.

  5. Come to my house and the (moderated) will be shot, like a bamachteres. When society permits egregious behavior, that’s what it gets.

  6. I’m not worried about the guy in jail right now. I am very concerned that the gangs may have put this into their initiation practice. How many would be want to be potential gang members are out there?

  7. worried mom you are right and she is lucky because when is an initiation of the gang most of the time is killing. God was with her

  8. Great Job LCSW & LPD. As an aside, did LPD get new lights on their cruisers ? they’re mamesh blinding when u pass by a lit up car at night. Or even late afternoon. Thanx, guys.

  9. I live in pine street area but as the lakewood scoop posted around two weeks ago similar incidents happened in other areas recently.
    Remind young children never to go near someone offering candy even if he looks jewish they should run and yell

Comments are closed.