Boyfriend Kidnaps Girl At Knifepoint After Hiding In Backseat At Ramapo College: Police

MAHWAH, NJ — A 19-year-old female student at Ramapo College was physically assaulted, threatened at knifepoint and subsequently abducted by her boyfriend Thursday, all leading to an extensive search involving police dogs and a helicopter in an effort to find the suspect, Mahwah police Capt. Guido Bussinelli said.

The boyfriend, later identified as 22-year-old Pawel Sliwinski — also a Ramapo College student — had gone to the college to find his girlfriend after an apparent disagreement, and hid in the back of her car to confront her. When the victim returned to her car, Sliwinski threatened her at knifepoint and told her to drive away from the campus, Bussinelli said.

As the victim continued north into New York, Sliwinski told her to pull into an outlet mall in Woodbury. While in the parking lot, Sliwinski got out of the car with the victim's cellphone and laptop, at which point the victim seized the opportunity to drive away, police said.

Familiar with the Woodbury area, the victim drove to the Woodbury Police Department and told officers what happened. Police then went to the mall to search for Sliwinski and found him fleeing down the railroad tracks next to the mall.

Sliwinski, of Garfield, was apprehended without further incident, and taken by Woodbury police to the Orange County Jail, pending extradition to New Jersey. He served with the following charges on a Mahwah warrant:

1. Kidnapping – 1st degree

2. Aggravated Assault – 2nd degree

3. Armed Burglary – 2nd degree

4. Terroristic Threats – 3rd degree

5. Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes – 3rd degree

6. Possession of a Weapon – 3rd degree

7. Stalking – 4th degree

After receiving medical attention, the victim was taken to the Mahwah Police Department for further investigation. During the incident, Mahwah police were in constant contact with the Ramapo College Public Safety Department and Administration.