A Staten Island man was charged with dragging a man with his pickup truck during a Rolex theft in Guttenberg after a months-long investigation, police said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
On April 21st, the Guttenberg Police Department’s Patrol Division received a report of a robbery that occurred on April 17th, in the area of 68th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard East, during which the victim sustained various injuries from being dragged by a pick-up truck to steal his Rolex watch.
Immediately, the Guttenberg PD’s Criminal Investigations Bureau launched an investigation. During the course of a few months, detectives were able to identify the suspect involved as Danny Ristick, 46, of Staten Island, New York.
With the assistance of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, detectives located the pick-up truck used by Ristick during this incident, which he abandoned at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York.
Ristick then left the state. Following the vehicles recovery, detectives executed a Hudson County Superior Court authorized search warrant, leading to the discovery of additional relevant pieces of evidence, supporting the investigation.
This included a fraudulent Rolex watch and various documents showing Ristick’s various aliases, which he utilized to evade apprehension.
As the result of their investigation, Ristick was charged with robbery, endangering an injured victim, assault by auto, aggravated assault, theft, and theft by deception.
All of the charges above were issued on a complaint warrant, but due to the fact Ristick left the state, he remained a fugitive from justice.
Utilizing the assistance of the U.S. Marshall Service, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Customs and Border Protection, and various other agencies, the Guttenberg PD’s Criminal Investigations Bureau continued to search for Ristick.
On June 29th, Ristick was arrested in Ogallala, Nebraska, for unrelated charges, during which he again utilized an alias. However, following their local investigation, the Ogallala Police Department confirmed his identity and notified our agency of his arrest.
At this time, Ristick is awaiting extradition to the State of New Jersey.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Guttenberg PD at 201-868-3300 or email Lt. Aleksandar Ramadanovic at aramadanovic@guttenbergpolice.org or Det. Sgt. Marcin Rysiec at mrysiec@guttenbergpolice.org
“I want to thank the officers and detectives of the Guttenberg Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Marshall Service, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, and all of our partners in the law enforcement community who assisted in apprehending a dangerous criminal,” Deputy Chief Frank Pelaez said in a statement.
“To the residents of Guttenberg, there is no where we won’t go to ensure your safety and protect our community. The officers and detectives of the Guttenberg Police Department will continue to serve you and your best interest.”
