Haverstraw Man Accused Of Following Women Home From Rockland Grocery Stores
RAMAPO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- An arrest has been made in a frightening pair of attempted abductions in Rockland County.
Police say two women were followed home from the grocery store and attacked in their driveways.
As CBS2's Lou Young reported, the women were followed from parking lots in Monsey and Chestnut Ridge. They were approached from behind while in their Rockland County driveways and assaulted with some kind of ammonia compound in what appears to be a pair of botched abductions attempt.
Security cameras at the store show the suspect's care moving through the darkened parking lot as if trolling for victims; peering into them to make sure they're empty, and then waiting at the far end of the lot until a woman alone emerges in the car and drives away.
Store manager Yakov Heller helped Ramapo detectives go through the image.
"He directly went after her, followed he, he even cut off another vehicle right behind her out of the parking lot, and into the street," Heller said, "Obviously very creepy."
Cops ran the plates and the owner of the car - a 28-year-old maintenance worker from Haverstraw - turned himself in mid-day Monday, his lawyer said his plea was 'not guilty.'
"We're asking that he be released on his own recognizance. He's a member of the 7th Day Adventist Church. There'll be two ministers who will vouch for him. He will come back to court and we'll litigate the matter," attorney Kenneth Gribetz said.
Both victims are members of the orthodox Jewish community. They're physically unhurt, the feeling is that the suspect targeted them for their gender, not their religion.
"If the person is indeed from Haverstraw, it's right around the corner, so it's the town next door. I think this guy probably decided to go to some shopping centers where he thought there may be some prey." Orthodox community activist Yossi Gestetner said.
The DA's office asked for $50,000 bail on charges of assault and unlawful imprisonment.
The suspect Adrian Valentin-Polanco was set to be arraigned on Monday night.
