In response to a Kings Park community that is on edge following the Suffolk County police deny that they delayed releasing info to the public even though it took two days for the department to announce the arrest of the suspect.
“You have to understand that in this particular investigation we continued for 20 hours starting from the time we were notified and then recommissioned five hours later,” said Det. Sgt. Edward Compagnone, of the Suffolk County Police’s Fourth Squad.
Police arrested Luis Sanchez of Kings Park at approximatley 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the same day the rape was reported. But the police only issued a statement about the rape and arrest on Thursday, two days after the incident occurred.
But readers of Patch, many who had witnessed the police activity in town Tuesday, reached out with concerns over whether someone dangerous was on the loose.
According to Compagnone releasing information in case like this where they had solid leads would be detrimental to the case.
"In an instance where we get information where an event occurs like this and we don’t have any leads and we don’t know who this is, yes we put out any information that we are looking through the media and Crime Stoppers, said Compagnone. "In this case we had leads very early on."
“The public was in not danger. He was taken into custody relatively quickly,” said Compagnone.
This is the second reported rape in Kings Park in less than six months. Compagnone said he is aware of the and says the cases appear to be unrelated.
Dan Keefe, deputy public information officer for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said there is no new information on the rape reported by NYS Park Police in April and that park police are still working with the Major Crime Unit of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Police patrols at NRSP remain at a higher frequency since the report of the April attack according to Lieutenant John Michta of the park police.
"We have people stationed there and other officers in nearby who check regularly," said Michta.
Police are not releasing any details about the woman who police say was raped multiple times, including her age, in order to protect her identity. The woman was jogging when she was pulled into a wooded area by a dead end parallel to Marvin Drive in Kings Park.
“It's a close community, we're trying to preserve her privacy,” said Capagnone.
Sanchez, 23 was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip and is being held in the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead on $1,000,025 bond or $500,025 cash.
Sanchez is expected back in court on Monday.
