On April 8th at approx 7:30PM, Officers from the the Lakewood Police Department were dispatched to the area of 5th Street and Princeton Avenue after receiving a report of an attempted abduction of a 16 yr old girl.

Initially, arriving Officers were unable to located the caller and/or victim. As they searched the area, dispatch received a second call regarding a man who was attempting to lure or follow a mother and daughter, ages 54 and 16, in the area of Princeton Avenue and 9th Street.

While other Officers responded to that location, information was received that members of LCSW (Lakewood Community Safety Watch) were following a black 2001 BMW SUV, that was believed to be operated by the suspect.

Officers also located the vehicle in the area of Clifton Avenue and 9th Street. While conducting a motor vehicle stop, the operator of the vehicle, 18 yr old Rafael Laurano-Flores of Lakewood, became violent towards the Officers. He was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters.

Detectives from the Lakewood Police Department Street Crimes Unit were able to locate the victims in this case.

Further investigation revealed that Laurano-Flores’ intention was to touch and knock down a woman from the Orthodox Jewish community as part of a gang initiation.

He was ultimately charged with Obstruction, Resisting Arrest, Three counts of Biased Intimidation and Three counts of Biased Harassment. Bail was set in the amount of $18,000 without a 10% option by Judge Basen. He is awaiting transportation to Ocean County Jail at this time.

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