“Daddy you should be in a book!” exclaimed 5-year-old Alyssa.
“Yeah, a book of superheroes,” said 7-year-old Matthew.
Then they both hugged their father, George Cedano of West New York, who saved a 4-year-old girl from being kidnapped just the previous weekend.
“I was walking from my house on 51st Street, and when I went down to Hudson Avenue, I heard people screaming in the middle of the street,” said Cedano in an interview last week.
Last July 5, just a little after midnight, convicted sex offender Christian Apicella, 27, of Hazlet, allegedly attempted to abduct a 4-year-old girl from the vicinity of 51st Street and Bergenline Avenue while she was walking with her aunt Caridad Groning of West New York.
“The aunt was watching the 4-year-old when Apicella walked up to the little girl and asked her about the toy necklace, at which point he [allegedly] picked the child up and started running away,” Police Director Tim Griffin told the Reporter last week. “According to the aunt, she had seen the subject in the area about half an hour before he approached the child. It is our belief he as stalking the child.”
Groning started chasing the man when she came across Cedano.
“I stopped in front of my building to see what was going on, and that is when I saw the guy running with a baby that looked just like her,” said Cedano, pointing to his daughter. “I saw him running, and I saw the aunt screaming, ‘Stop him, that is not her father! He took my baby!’ ”
“The guy was running fast, and when he passed me, he was saying, ‘No, that is not the mother; I’m the father,’ Cedano added.
Cedano was momentarily confused by the conflicting statements, but when Groning reached him, she pleaded him to help her, and that was when Cedano resumed the chase.
‘Stop, I have a gun’
According to Cedano, the suspect ran down 52nd Street towards Palisade Avenue, and managed to cut him off for a second as he rounded back up to 53rd Street.
“I was right in front of him and told him to put the baby down, and that is when he [allegedly] said that he had a gun,” said Cedano, who refused to get out of his way.
“We were in front of the church and I told him just put the baby down and you can go,” said Cedano. “I just wanted the baby to be safe. I went blank. All I though about was the baby.”
After releasing the little girl, the girl jumped into Cedano’s arms and the suspect attempted to run off.
“She hugged me really tight, and that is when I thought about my daughter, and I knew this guy can’t leave like this,” said Cedano.
Cedano returned the girl to Groning, who was running up from behind, and he continued to chase after the suspect.
“At this point, he was really confused and just wanted to get away,” said Cedano. “He started running back by 52nd Street and Palisade Avenue, and I just kept chasing him, always right behind him.”
Allegedly Apicella kept repeating that he had a gun, and kept a hand in his pocket.
“He kept saying, ‘Back off, I have gun,’ but I knew he had nothing,” Cedano said. “He would have pulled it out already.”
Oops; vehicle towed
The chase lasted about 10 to 15 minutes and finally came to an end on 53rd Street between Palisade and Hudson avenues, where there were police officers responding, and additional officers on patrol for the Fourth of July celebration.
“The initial incident took place at the 300 block of 51st Street,” said Griffin. “The guy ran north on Hudson Avenue to 52nd Street. Turned onto 52nd Street to Palisade Avenue ran north on Palisade to 53rd Street, and turned west on 53rd Street to Hudson Avenue.”
Apicella’s vehicle was originally parked on 53rd Street between Hudson and Palisade avenues.
“We believe he was trying to make his way to the vehicle for his escape, but he parked in a driveway and the vehicle was towed only moments before the incident took place,” said Griffin.
Apicella was taken to Hudson County Correctional facility and charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and making terroristic threats. He has numerous prior offenses and already served time for charges of sexually assaulting two underage girls, drug distribution, and harassment, police said.
Cedano has since kept in touch with the family of the little girl he helped save, and other than having some trouble sleeping, she is otherwise doing well.
“I am very grateful for what he did,” said Caridad Groning. “There are not too many people out there who would risk their lives, especially for one someone you don’t even know. He was like a guardian angel; there at the right moment.”
Cedano is a father of five, including older sons George, 20, Chris, 18, and Brandon, 14.
“I feel great that I was able to help save the baby girl,” said Cedano. “The mother called me the next day to say thank you for everything. That is the mother’s only baby girl. I know how that is. [Alyssa] is my only daughter.” “And he fixed the door, too,” said an excited Alyssa.