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Two girls, ages 14 and 16, were walking west on Herbert Avenue in Lindenhurst on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at approximately 3:35 p.m. when a man driving a white SUV approached them, identified himself as a police officer, and asked them what they were doing, Suffolk County Police said.
The girls told the man that they were walking to the library, according to police.
The man then told the girls to get in his vehicle and he would drive them to the library.
Upon entering the library’s parking lot, he told the older girl to exit the vehicle so he could talk to the younger girl, said police.
He then drove off with the 14-year-old to a nearby park. The man parked the vehicle and began to touch the girl but she was able to fight him off and flee the vehicle, according to police. She ran to a nearby home for help and the homeowner called 911.
On Thursday afternoon, Feb. 4, Suffolk County Police identified the suspect as Donald Cristiano Jr., age 46, of Bay Shore.
Cristiano was charged with:
- Two counts of second-degree kidnapping,
- Two counts of endangering the welfare of a child,
- One count of first-degree criminal impersonation,
- One count of luring a child.
Cristiano was arraigned on Friday, Feb. 5 at First District Court in Central Islip.
Police are asking anyone who had contact with Cristiano on Wednesday, Feb. 3 to contact the First Squad at 631-854-8152.
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