Making an appearance in court on Monday was Luigi Pandolfo, 33, who according to Jersey City police, was charged with kidnapping, criminal restraint, and sexual assault after allegedly abducting a 12-year-old girl Saturday night and holding her against her will for two hours in an empty apartment on Colgate Street in downtown Jersey City.
The girl, unidentified by police due to being underage, was riding her bike at around 7:30 p.m. near Colgate Street when she was allegedly grabbed by Pandolfo and forced to go to the Colgate Street apartment that he shared with his mother. He then allegedly took her to an abandoned apartment near his home.
According to police, the girl climbed out a second floor window and down the fire escape of the Colgate Street building, and then found her bicycle and rode home, where she reported the incident to her parents, who called police.
Investigators said they found several pairs of handcuffs, pornography, weapons, and body bags that were allegedly in Pandolfo’s home. They are continuing their investigation.
Pandolfo is being held in custody on $500,000 cash bail. – RK