RED BANK: MAN ARRESTED FOR CLUB TO THE HEAD, GASOLINE ASSAULT

A Bank Street man was arrested Thursday two days after a neighbor told police the man struck him in the head with metal object, threatened him with a gun a poured gasoline on him, Red Bank police say. 

 

Jose Hernandez-Ruano, 23, of Bank Street is charged with aggravated assault, possession of weapon for unlawful use, unlawful possession of weapon and other charges, according to a press release issued by Chief Michael Frazee.

 

 

 

 

A friend of the victim and resident of the home where the incident occurred told redbankgreen the victim and other residents of the home had never met the suspect before, despite police describing Hernandez-Ruano as living on the same street as the victim.

 

The man said a group of friends were gathered in the yard and house at 75 Bank Street when the suspect arrived and attacked the victim. 

 

“It’s crazy and scary,” said the friend. “We all have to look out for each other. “

 

Here is the full press release from Chief Frazee:

 

Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, officers responded to Riverview Medical Center after being alerted to a patient who arrived at the emergency room who had been physically assaulted somewhere in Red Bank.  

 

Upon arrival of Ptl. Andrew Todd, he located a Hispanic male patient in the emergency room who was bleeding severely from his head as well as his clothes being covered in gasoline.  The victim, a Bank Street resident advised that while in his rear yard, an unknown male subject approached him and became engaged in argumentative conversation. 

 

During the conversation, the accused male then struck the victim in the head with unknown metal object, knocking him to the ground.  The victim reported that while on the ground, the accused then began pouring gasoline that was in a nearby gas tank on him and then threatened him with a handgun.  

 

The victim described the accused as a Hispanic male, possibly from El Salvador with a tall muscular build, wearing a black shirt and was last seen fleeing the area on foot.  

 

The victim was treated at Riverview Medical Center and later released after receiving care.   

 

On Thursday, February 6, 2025, Ptl. Taylor Doremus and Ptl. James McGee received information from the victim advising that the accused was observed in the area of 75 Bank Street.  As the officers arrived in the area, they located a man fitting the description.  After a brief investigation, it was determined that the accused provided false identification depicting someone other than himself with a different date of birth.  The accused was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters for further investigation.  

 

Det. Paul Perez, leading the investigation identified the accused as 23-year-old Jose Hernandez-Ruano, Hispanic male from El Salvador and a Bank Street resident.  As a result of the investigation, Hernandez-Ruano was charged with the following:

 

Possessing and providing a false identification, 2C:21-2

Hindering his apprehension, 2C:29-3

Aggravated Assault, 2C:12-1b

Possession of weapon for unlawful use, 2C:39-4D

Unlawful possession of weapon, 2C:39-5D

 

Hernandez-Ruano was transported and housed at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution.  The incident remains under investigation, anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Paul Perez or Lt. James Deponte 732-530-2700.