ICE Moves To Deport Red Bank Man Accused Of Assaulting Neighbor

RED BANK, NJ — The Red Bank man accused of hitting a Bank Street resident in the head and pouring gasoline on him is now in the custody of US Customs & Immigration Enforcement (ICE), an ICE spokesman told Patch.

Jose Hernandez-Ruano, 23, of Red Bank, was arrested by ICE agents on Thursday after a line of unmarked cars and officers in bulletproof vests were reported near a home on Bank Street.

According to an ICE spokesman, Hernandez-Ruano is currently detained in their custody and pending removal proceedings.

“ICE arrested Jose Hernandez-Ruano, who is illegally present in the United States, on Feb. 20,” the ICE spokesman said. “He was served a notice to appear before an immigration judge and his next court date is pending with the Executive Office for Immigration Review.”

Hernandez-Ruano was arrested by ICE after he was charged in connection with the Feb. 4 assault of a Bank Street resident.

According to police, Hernandez-Ruano was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful use, possessing and providing false identification and hindering his apprehension.

On Feb. 7, he had his detention hearing and was released with the conditions of monthly monitoring, no victim contact and no return to the scene of the crime, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said.

While Hernandez-Ruano was charged in Monmouth County, federal charges typically take precedence, and people can be prosecuted in connection with the same accusations because federal and state courts are separate entities.

The Bank Street incident occurred close to midnight on Feb. 4, authorities said.

A Bank Street man was drinking with a friend in his backyard when Hernandez-Ruano entered the backyard, threw gasoline on him and hit him in the head with a small baseball bat or another long hard object, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Following the incident, the victim was taken to Riverview Medical Center and treated for two cuts to the head that required staples to close, court documents said. The victim has also suffered from headaches and vision issues since the assault.

Two days later, on Feb. 6, Hernandez-Ruano was riding his bicycle past the victim’s house when the victim saw him and identified him as the person who assaulted him, the affidavit said. He was arrested after the victim stopped him and called the police.

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