Man Who Posed As Police Officer To Kidnap 2 Teenage Girls Arrested

KEY POINTS

Donald Cristiano Jr. introduced himself as a cop and offered the girls a ride to the library
When they got to the library's parking lot, he asked one of the girls to get out of the car
He sped away to a nearby park and began groping the other girl
The girls gave the cops a detailed description of his vehicle, which led to his arrest

A Long Island man who tried to kidnap two teenage girls by posing as a police officer was arrested on Thursday.

Donald Cristiano Jr., 46, was held by the Suffolk County police on charges of second-degree kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child, first-degree criminal impersonation and luring a child, reported the New York Post.

The incident happened around 3:35 p.m. on Wednesday. The teens, aged 14 and 16, were on their way to a library along Herbert Avenue in Lindenhurst when Cristiano approached them. He identified himself as a police officer and offered the girls a ride to the library. The teens accepted his offer and the man drove them to their destination.

When they got to the library's parking lot, he asked the 16-year-old girl to get out of the car as he wanted to speak to the other girl. Police said Cristiano then sped away to a nearby park and started groping the girl.

However, the girl managed to grab the vehicle's door handle and kick it open, escaping to a nearby home. The homeowner called 911. The victim was taken to a hospital and then released.

According to the Suffolk Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart, the teens were able to provide the detectives with the description of the vehicle and the man. This enabled the police to find 400 matching vehicles across the county.

Police then zeroed in on Cristiano, who matched the description. He was arrested from Bay Shore.

Hart warned people against such impersonation. "I want to remind people that if you are ever stopped by a person who impersonates an officer, ask for a badge or ID," says Hart.

The accused will be arraigned on Friday at the First District Court in Central Islip.

Two months ago, a 27-year-old man identified as Tashaun Walls was arrested for sexually assaulting a 6-year-old child who helped him deliver packages in a posh neighborhood in New York. Although the girl tried to break free from his clutches, he pursued her until her mother came to help. He then fled the scene.

Walls faces at least nine charges, including predatory sexual assault and kidnapping, in connection with the incident that was caught on a security camera. He later confessed to the crime.