Thomas G. Rutledge, of Green Lane (Montgomery County), PA began talking with the child over Snapchat, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Rutledge was a stranger to the child, and engaged in "sexually explicit" conversations, Musella said.
Teaneck police were tipped off to an incident of luring within their jurisdiction on Monday, Feb. 19. An investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Teaneck Police Department under the direction of Chief Andrew McGurr identified Rutledge as a suspect. The Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) and the Pennsylvania State Police were notified.
Rutledge was arrested at his house on Tuesday, Sept. 24, and was charged with second-degree luring, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
He was arrested at his Green Lane, PA residence by the Pennsylvania State Police and remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility in Doylestown, PA pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.
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