Crime & Safety
Glen Cove Cop's Extra Effort Led to Rape Arrest
Police: Officer saw victim and suspect in car, took 13-year-old home; case unfolded from that point.
Written By Joe Dowd and Heather Doyle
As he patrolled the darkened streets of the Tappen Road area Aug. 9, Patrolman Jason Grella came upon a parked car with two people inside, a man and a 13-year-old girl.
While they appeared to be talking and were dressed, Grella became suspicious. He took the man's identification records and then drove the teenager home in his patrol car. The girl's parents didn't even know she was out.
From that night, Glen Cove police have been tracking down the Bayville man who now stands accused of three felony counts of rape, police said. (See our breaking story from early Tuesday here.)
Tereso De Jesus Ruiz-Hernandez, 25, of 59 Bayville Ave., met the 13-year-old on Facebook and lured her to numerous secret meetings in his car in Glen Cove. The meetings began in July.
"It was solid police work," said Det. Lt. John Nagle of the Glen Cove Police. "Patrolman Grella went the extra mile that night and it paid off."
Lt. Nagle said the girl is "OK," not physically hurt and will receive treatment and support.
A joint investigation with the Special Victims Unit of the Nassau Police joined Glen Cove police. The teen revealed to her parents that she had a relationship over Facebook with Ruiz-Hernandez that led to the secret night meetings.
Ruiz-Hernandez had a job in Bayville and a prior arrest for criminal possession of stolen property. He had no prior sex-related criminal history, Nassau Police said at a press conference Tuesday.
Ruiz-Hernandez would arrange meetings with the girl over Facebook and pick her up in public places. He'd then drive her to remote locations and offer her alcohol, police said. After they drank together, the suspect committed the felonies he's accused of, police said.
Glen Cove Lt. Nagle and Det. Brian Glennon, along with Nassau police, made the arrest in Bayville Monday night. Legal documents are being prepared to obtain all electronic and phone records related to the case, police said.
Ruiz-Hernandez was arraigned Tuesday and is being held on $20,000 cash bail or bond in the Nassau County Jail, the Nassau District Attorney's office said. He is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County and is due back in court Thursday.
As he patrolled the darkened streets of the Tappen Road area Aug. 9, Patrolman Jason Grella came upon a parked car with two people inside, a man and a 13-year-old girl.
While they appeared to be talking and were dressed, Grella became suspicious. He took the man's identification records and then drove the teenager home in his patrol car. The girl's parents didn't even know she was out.
From that night, Glen Cove police have been tracking down the Bayville man who now stands accused of three felony counts of rape, police said. (See our breaking story from early Tuesday here.)
Tereso De Jesus Ruiz-Hernandez, 25, of 59 Bayville Ave., met the 13-year-old on Facebook and lured her to numerous secret meetings in his car in Glen Cove. The meetings began in July.
"It was solid police work," said Det. Lt. John Nagle of the Glen Cove Police. "Patrolman Grella went the extra mile that night and it paid off."
Lt. Nagle said the girl is "OK," not physically hurt and will receive treatment and support.
A joint investigation with the Special Victims Unit of the Nassau Police joined Glen Cove police. The teen revealed to her parents that she had a relationship over Facebook with Ruiz-Hernandez that led to the secret night meetings.
Ruiz-Hernandez had a job in Bayville and a prior arrest for criminal possession of stolen property. He had no prior sex-related criminal history, Nassau Police said at a press conference Tuesday.
Ruiz-Hernandez would arrange meetings with the girl over Facebook and pick her up in public places. He'd then drive her to remote locations and offer her alcohol, police said. After they drank together, the suspect committed the felonies he's accused of, police said.
Glen Cove Lt. Nagle and Det. Brian Glennon, along with Nassau police, made the arrest in Bayville Monday night. Legal documents are being prepared to obtain all electronic and phone records related to the case, police said.
Ruiz-Hernandez was arraigned Tuesday and is being held on $20,000 cash bail or bond in the Nassau County Jail, the Nassau District Attorney's office said. He is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County and is due back in court Thursday.
Ruiz-Hernandez is charged with one count of second-degree rape and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual act, felonies.
He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted, the D.A.'s office said.
Glen Cove Police believe other victims may be in the area and are urged to contact to contact the Glen Cove Police at 516-676-1002.
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