55°
A grand jury indicted 47-year-old Kevin Ruditsky on 19 counts, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Thursday, Oct. 24. Ruditsky is suspended without pay from his job as a patrolman for the Manalapan Township Police Department.
Ruditsky was facing charges related to accusations of stalking a then-16-year-old girl in 2023. The indictment revealed new allegations against him from a second girl — who was 17 at the time — when he sent her inappropriate messages in December 2022.
The county prosecutor's office started investigating Ruditsky in August 2023 after receiving tips that he was sending inappropriate messages and photos to the 16-year-old. Ruditsky met the girl during Manalapan's 2023 National Night Out event.
Investigators said Ruditsky was in his full uniform and allowed the teen to sit in his patrol car. That evening and in the following days, he started sending her sexually explicit messages and photos through social media, even though she repeatedly told him how old she was.
Ruditsky was also accused of pulling the girl over when she was driving on Route 9, unlawfully handcuffing her, and trying to kiss her. His body-worn and dash cameras were not on during the incident, which was several days after National Night Out.
Prosecutors also said Ruditsky was on duty and parked his cruiser in front of the victim's home in the middle of the night after she didn't give him her address. He was also accused of improperly looking up both victims in a law enforcement database.
Ruditsky was indicted for second-degree engaging in a pattern of official misconduct, nine counts of second-degree official misconduct, three counts each of third-degree computer criminal activity and endangering the welfare of a child, and one count each of third-degree hindering apprehension, fourth-degree impersonating a law enforcement officer (while suspended from duty), and fourth-degree stalking.
Anyone with information about Ruditsky should call the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 800-533-7443.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Mount Laurel and receive free news updates.
