Red Bank Police arrested a 46-year-old borough man in the early hours of Tuesday morning following a reported sexual assault of a woman on Monmouth Street, police Capt. Steve McCarthy reports today.
The victim, a 24-year-old resident of Little Silver, told police she had been walking along Monmouth between Broad Street and Maple Avenue when a man stepped stepped out from an alley between two stores and said, “I’m going to bring you where you belong.”
He then grabbed the woman about the waist and groped her sexually, according to the report.
“The victim then pulled away, fell to the ground and ran for help,” according to a statement issued by McCarthy. The accused fled the area.
Ptl. George Travastino, who responded to the 2:14a call, was able to locate the accused, Raul Cruz-Flores, in the White Street parking lot. Cruz-Flores was identified by the victim and subsequently charged with criminal sexual contact, police say.
Bail was set at $2,500 by Municipal Court Judge William Himelman and Cruz-Flores was transferred to the Monmouth County Correctional Facility.
Sgt. Michael Furlong and Ptl. Paul Perez assisted Ptl. Travastino in the initial investigation and arrest. Inv. David Hicks and Sgt. Eliot Ramos conducted the follow-up investigation.
$2,500 bail? That's it? How about something more substantial? First Himmelman lets Wall Police Officer Sullivan off, now such a low bail for a sexual assualt? He should be kicked off the bench. Unreal!
Shocking bail.
$2500….you have to be kidding me. That your 'honor' is shameful. god forbid that he makes bail and does it again. I wouldn't wish this on any one, and I pray that he do sent get the opportunity to do this again because of Himmleman's stupidity. Out of curiosity, will this be an ICE issue?
just curious- is he a us resident?
$2,500 holy cow. any acquintance was arrested for terroristic threats and domestic violence. no actual bodily harm done, however, and i say this strongly, a $10,000 bond was set and no 10% a potential rapist gets $2,500? what was this judge thinking?????????????????????????????????
We'd be a lot safer if Red Bank was as tough on rapists as they are on people whose parking meters run out.
to some people $2500.00 is like $50,000.00. I'm sure the judge did what he thinks is best for the community.
Was it a RAPE or an ASSAULT there is a difference
to some people $2500.00 is like $50,000.00. I'm sure the judge did what he thinks is best for the community.
Was it a RAPE or an ASSAULT there is a difference……..
very rarely do i insult, even if at all on this site, but you are an idiot. You are either Judge Himmelman posting this or one of his friends because no sane person could even say such a thing.
In New Jersey, the crime we commonly call rape is legally sexual assault. There is no such thing as a rape charge in this state. Sexual assault is any unwanted penetration no matter how slight, be it oral, vaginal, or anal by any foreign object. It would appear based on the charge of sexual contact that this survivor fought him off and prevented the situation from escalating to a full-blown sexual assault. In my experience, this means that this criminal was thwarted from continuing to assault and that next time (and there is always a next time), he will be even more dangerous. $2500 is ridiculously low bail particularly for a crime that has such a high rate of both escalation and recidivism. My thoughts are with the brave survivor amd this perverts future victims.
Father and husband:
To answer your question, under the brand new Attorney General guidelines, Red Bank police might be required to contact ICE at the time of arrest and do a check on the suspect's immigration status. That info could come into play at the bail hearing. As for getting the answer to his status - unless the cops or the judge release that info, it won't be made public. Even for convicted criminals, ICE treats people's immigration status as confidential info and will not release it publicly. They're prohibited by a federal law called the Privacy Act.
redbankgreen received this via e-mail from Red Bank Police Capt. Steve McCarthy this morning:
"Criminal Sexual Contact is only a fourth degree crime. According to the NJ Judiciary bail schedule that is the highest the Judge could give us for a fourth degree."