PD: Man impersonated officer, kidnapped and touched teen on Long Island

WABC logo
Thursday, February 4, 2021
PD: Man impersonated officer, kidnapped and touched teen
Police on Long Island arrested the man accused of impersonating a police officer and abducting a teenager in Lindenhurst.

LINDENHURST, Long Island (WABC) -- Police on Long Island arrested the man accused of impersonating a police officer and abducting a teenager in Lindenhurst.

Donald Cristiano Jr., 46, was charged with two counts of 2nd Degree Kidnapping, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of Criminal Impersonation 1st Degree and one count of Luring a Child.

Authorities say the kidnapping happened Wednesday afternoon.

According to police, Cristiano stopped two girls, ages 14 and 16, as they walked along Herbert Avenue to the library.

He identified himself as an officer and said he would give them a ride to the library and the teens got in his car.

Police said Cristiano then drove them to the library but told the 16-year-old to get out because he needed to speak with the younger girl.

He then drove away with the 14-year-old girl to a nearby park and began touching her.

She fought him off and ran to a nearby home and the homeowner called the police.

Cristiano was later arrested.

He'll be arraigned February 5 at First District Court in Central Islip.

ALSO READ | Rochester officers who pepper-sprayed 9-year-old suspended

The city of Rochester has suspended police officers seen in body-camera videos spraying a chemical "irritant" in the face of a distraught and handcuffed 9-year-old girl, officials say.

----------

* More Long Island news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube

Submit a News Tip

Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.