Police in Kearny are investigating an attempted kidnapping that reportedly occurred in Kearny on Sunday morning,
According to Kearny Police officials, at 8:03 a.m., a 30-year-old woman reported to Officer Harold Azurdia that she was walking on the 200 block of Kearny Avenue when a man grabbed her and pushed her to the ground.
Kearny Police said the woman escaped from the man, who reportedly continued southbound on Kearny Avenue.
According to Kearny Police, at 9:02 a.m., Officers Bryan San Martin, Nick Funk, and Sgt. Angelo Palagano responded to the Kearny Avenue firehouse, where Firefighters Janeczko and Bulger, and a concerned citizen, reported they investigated the sounds of a woman screaming for help and allegedly found a man bear-hugging a 17-year-old Kearny girl on the ground.
When firefighters and the good Samaritan intervened, the man allegedly ran up Dukes Street but returned to the scene when they pursued him.
After further investigation by the police officers and Det Jonathan Dowie, officers arrested the alleged assailant.
Police say he was later identified as Mr. Jorge L. Rodriguez, 24, of Kearny.
Rodriguez was charged with criminal attempt (sexual assault) in the second degree, endangering the welfare of a child in the third degree, unlawful restraint in the third degree, and simple assault, a disorderly person's offense.
Although investigation revealed that Rodriguez was the suspect of the earlier assault on the 200-block of Kearny Avenue, the victim, in that case, did not pursue charges.
Rodriguez was held in the Hudson County jail.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.