Red Bank Man Beaten With Pipe ID'd Assailant On Bike Ride: Documents

RED BANK, NJ — The Red Bank man accused of hitting a Bank Street resident in the head, pouring gasoline on him and threatening him with a gun was identified when he rode his bike past the victim's home three days later, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Jose Hernandez-Ruano, 23, who also lives on Bank Street, was arrested and 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, according to police.

Around 11 p.m. on Feb. 3, the victim of the incident was drinking with a friend in his backyard when Hernandez-Ruano entered the backyard, threw gasoline on the victim and hit him in the head with a small baseball bat or another long hard object, the affidavit said.

Hernandez-Ruano then ran off, jumping a nearby fence and losing his shoes in the process, the affidavit said.

Surveillance footage obtained by authorities showed a person matching Hernandez-Ruano’s description hiding in nearby backyards around the same time.

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

The victim told authorities that one of his roommates spoke with Hernandez-Ruano after the incident happened but before police arrived. Another roommate found an unlocked cell phone following the incident, which had a photo of Hernandez-Ruano inside, court documents said.

On Feb. 6, Hernandez-Ruano was riding his bicycle past the victim’s home when the victim saw him and identified him as the person who assaulted him, the affidavit said. The victim stopped Hernandez-Ruano and called the police, who arrested him.

When police interviewed him, Hernandez-Ruano admitted that he was in the backyard of the victim’s home and admitted to jumping the fence and losing his shoes, but did not admit to the assault.

Instead, Hernandez-Ruano told authorities that he was assaulted by the residents and that after he fled, the remaining residents and the victim were fighting each other.

Hernandez-Ruano had his detention hearing on Feb. 7 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.

The incident is under investigation, Red Bank Police Chief Michael Frazee said. Anyone with information is being asked to contact Detective Paul Perez or Lt. James Deponte at 732-530-2700.

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