Suspect in 'Attempted Abduction' at Rider Seen at TCNJ

The Lawrence Township man who allegedly on Monday is free on bail and today (Friday, April 1) was spotted on the Ewing Township campus of The College of New Jersey, according to alerts emailed to students by public safety officials at both institutions.

Photos of the suspect, 68-year-old Tony A. Kadyhrob, were included in the alerts and also posted on TCNJ’s website.

The photos on the TCNJ website were accompanied by the following text: “The person pictured below was arrested in connection with an attempted abduction in Lawrence Township earlier this week. He is currently free on bail. According to Lawrence police, he has been known to frequent college campuses. He was observed at The College of New Jersey on April 1, 2011, and was ejected and barred from campus by TCNJ Campus Police Services.”

Kadyhrob was declared a “Persona Non Grata” by Rider and banned from both the university’s main campus in Lawrence and its Westminster Choir campus in Princeton Borough as soon as he was identified as a suspect, prior to his arrest on Tuesday at his home in the 2000 block of Princeton Pike.  

While both Rider and TCNJ are calling the incident that took place on Rider’s Lawrence campus on Monday, March 28, an “attempted abduction,” Lawrence Township police thus far have not used the word “abduction” and have said that the motive behind Kadyhrob’s alleged actions remains under investigation.

Police charged Kadyhrob with trying to entice an adult into a motor vehicle, which is a third-degree crime. Free on bail, he is scheduled to appear before Judge Paul Catanese in Lawrence Township municipal court on Tuesday, April 5, at 8 a.m., according to Lt. Charles Edgar, a spokesman for Lawrence Township police.

The alleged incident occurred a little before 2:20 p.m. on Monday in parking lot “Z” near Rider’s south entrance.

Edgar earlier in the week told Lawrenceville Patch that the victim, a 19-year-old Rider student who lives in Monroe, told police she had just parked her car and was walking though the parking lot when she noticed a man who she said appeared a little “strange” a short distance away.

The man was standing near where the woman needed to go, so she pretended to talk on her cell phone in an attempt to avoid making eye-contact with the man, according to Edgar.

But as the woman neared him, the man started to talk to her, asking her how she was doing, Edgar said. After a very brief exchange of “small talk” the woman went to walk away, he said, but the man allegedly grabbed her by her upper arm and directed her to get in his car and go with him.

The 19-year-old was able to break free of the man’s grasp and run away. When she reached her dormitory room, she immediately called Rider University security, who in turn alerted township police.

Officer James Vandanega and Detective William Chester investigated the incident throughout the night and were able to identify Kadyhrob as a suspect, Edgar said. He said a warrant for Kadyhrob’s arrest was obtained the next day (Tuesday, March 29) and the 68-year-old was arrested a short time later at his home without incident.

In its first communication to students about the incident – sent by email at 2:52 p.m. Monday, about a half-hour after the victim contacted authorities – Rider offered a description of the man and cautioned students to “be aware of your surroundings, walk in pairs, and immediately report suspicious persons.” Two additional emails followed on Tuesday, at about 9:45 a.m. and at 4 p.m., reporting that a suspect had been identified and then taken into custody.

Rider distributed the photos of Kadyhrob in an email sent to students about 7 p.m. Friday. That email included the following advisory:

“In response to requests, we have now received and wish to share with you photos of Tony Kadyhrob who, as you know, is the 68 year old Lawrence resident who was arrested on Tuesday, March 29, by Lawrence Township Police Department in conjunction with the incident earlier this week on Rider's Lawrenceville campus. While there have been no reports of Mr. Kadyhrob on either of Rider's two campuses since he was released on bail, he was seen this afternoon at The College of New Jersey and has been declared Persona Non Grata on that campus. TCNJ officials have informed the appropriate authorities. These photos have also been shared with Rider's Public Safety, Residence Life and Student Affairs staff.

“Mr. Kadyhrob continues to be Persona Non Grata on both of Rider's campuses, which means he is subject to arrest for trespassing if seen on either campus at any time for any reason. While we have no expectation that Mr. Kadyhrob will return to Rider's campuses, if you see him, do not confront him. Please contact Public Safety immediately at (609) 896-7777 or (609) 896-5029.”

In a story about Monday’s incident, the Rider News – the university’s student newspaper – quoted several students who said they had seen Kadyhrob lurking around different parts of the Lawrence campus – parking lots, the dining hall, the pub – at various times over the last few weeks.