Three Bronx males are under arrest for kidnapping, stabbing and taking police on a motor vehicle chase on Wednesday according to Bayonne Police Captain Eric Amato. The men, 23-year old, Angel Aristy of Olinville Avenue, 19-year old Pedro Castillo of 172nd Street and 19-year old Rafael Vargas of Olinville Avenue, were taken into custody at 9:44 am from the areas of 8th Street and 10th Street.
Amato says an officer on patrol in the area of 21st Street and Avenue A observed a black Audi parked just east of Avenue A on West 21st Street and a male attempting to drag another male, the 30 year old victim, toward the rear passenger side of the vehicle. Believing he had just observed an attempted abduction, the officer headed back to the area and was flagged down by the victim who directed him to the Audi. As the officer neared the Audi with his vehicle, the Audi sped off at a high rate of speed toward Kennedy Boulevard.
As the officer attempted to stop the vehicle for investigation and the reckless driving he had just observed, the operator of the Audi refused to comply, resulting in the initiation of a motor vehicle pursuit. The Audi continued to flee, disregarding numerous traffic signals and ultimately striking a pick-up truck in the area of 11th Street and Kennedy Boulevard.
The Audi continued south on Kennedy Boulevard where it crashed into a parked, unoccupied Lexus and a traffic signal box on the corner of West 10th Street and Kennedy Boulevard. The officer then observed three males, later identified as the above-listed arrestees, exit the vehicle and flee on West 10th Street toward Avenue A. Numerous back-up officers flooded the area an initiated an extensive search for the three males. The search resulted in the apprehension of all three males from various nearby areas.
As the pursuing officer continued his investigation at the crash scene, he observed an opened, folding knife lying on the rear passenger seat as well as a ski mask resting on the driver seat. The officer was also able to locate another small knife on the street under the Lexus that had been struck by the suspect vehicle. As officers continued to search the area for additional evidence, a black hooded sweatshirt worn by one of the actors, a ski mask, and another hooded sweatshirt belonging to one of the actors were recovered from the area. At this time, the victim had the left the area, but soon responded to police headquarters.
While at police headquarters, Captain Amato says the victim reported that as he was walking in the area of 21st Street, a male approached him and threatened to shoot him if he refused to walk with him and get in the car. No gun was shown or observed but the victim reported that the actor, later identified as Aristy, stated he was in possession of a gun. As the two proceeded to walk to the waiting parked Audi with the rear passenger door opened, a struggle ensued as the victim attempted to break free so as to not be forced into the vehicle. During the struggle, the victim felt, what he believed to be, a punch to his stomach but later realized that he had been stabbed by Aristy. It was at this point that the victim observed the police vehicle making a u-turn to investigate what, as stated earlier, the officer believed was an attempted abduction.
The victim then responded to an area hospital to be treated before responding to headquarters. The operator of the black Audi could not be determined, as such, all three occupants were charged with the numerous motor vehicle violations observed during the pursuit. The extensive investigation led to all three males being positively identified as the actors. The motive for the incident is unknown at this time and no firearm was recovered.
Captain Amato stated, “First and foremost, the public should rest easy knowing that this incident was an isolated incident that appears to be targeted. All 3 actors of Bronx, NY have been apprehended and will now have to answer for their actions in a court of law.
All three suspects have been charged with kidnapping, obstructing a governmental function, eluding, conspiracy, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. Aristy was additionally charged with aggravated assault with a weapon and making terroristic threats to kill.
