Lakewood Man Goes From Hospital Bed To Jail Bed: Prosecutor

LAKEWOOD, NJ — As he walked out of Jersey Shore University Medical Center on Monday, a neck brace still in place, Christian Hernandez-Ruiz thought he was headed home to recuperate from an automobile crash.

Instead, the Lakewood man was greeted by a pair of detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, who put him in handcuffs and hauled him off to jail, according to the prosecutor's office.

Christian Hernandez-Ruiz, 42, of Lakewood, was arrested Monday about 5 p.m. as he was being discharged from Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, after treatment for injuries he suffered in the July 3 crash, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Hernandez-Ruiz was behind the wheel of a Cadillac DTS on July 3 when Lakewood police attempted to pull the car over for a motor vehicle violation, Della Fave said. Instead of pulling over, Hernandez-Ruiz fled "at a high rate of speed," he said, causing Lakewood police to call off the pursuit. Hernandez-Ruiz lost control of the car when he was out of sight of police and hit a tree near New Hampshire Avenue and Oak Street, Della Fave said.

"Because the crash occurred as a result of Lakewood PD’s efforts to stop the motor vehicle, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office assumed responsibility for the investigation," Della Fave said.

The investigation revealed the registered owner of the vehicle was the victim of a residential burglary and the keys to the Cadillac DTS were taken during the robbery, he said. A short time later, Hernandez-Ruiz allegedly came back to the residence and took the vehicle, without the owner’s knowledge or permission, Della Fave said.

Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Michael Weatherstone sought an arrest warrant for Hernandez-Ruiz on charges of burglary and auto theft, which was approved by Superior Court Judge Melanie Donohue Appleby, with bail set at $50,000, no 10 percent option, he said.

Detectives Brad Frank and Anthony Paciulli from the prosecutor's office arrested Hernandez-Ruiz, Della Fave said, and he is being held at the Ocean County Jail in lieu of bail.

Photo via Ocean County Corrections Department