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ELIZABETH, N.J. -- As the investigation continues into the recent escape of Phillip Ruddy, who fled the Union County Jail earlier this Summer, authorities have arrested a relative of Ruddy’s who helped in the escape, said Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow.
Charles Grecco DOB: 10/24/1980 of Rahway was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with one count of 3rd facilitating an escape, one count of 3rd conspiracy to committee an escape, one count of 2nd degree hindering the escape of another and one count of 3rd degree hindering the escape of another.
Grecco is being held on $500,000 bail. |
According to the investigation, Grecco, who is Ruddy’s uncle, had several telephone conversations with the inmate in advance of the escape. He then picked up Ruddy around the corner from the jail on the night of the escape.
On June 29, 2009 Ruddy and another inmate were emptying trash in the plaza when, according to the investigation, he ran off. The corrections officer supervising the pair secured the other inmate and radioed for backup.
Ruddy was captured a week later in Newark after his father, who is on parole, notified his parole officer that Ruddy was at a house on Eagle Street in Newark, said Romankow. Officers went to the location and found Ruddy hiding in the basement.
Ruddy, DOB: 10/17/1987, of Rahway was first admitted to the jail on June 1, 2009 for a parole violation and due to his low risk status, at the time, was put to work at the jail complex. One of his duties included supervised trash removal on Elizabethtown Plaza.
He is charged with 3rd degree escape and is being held on $1 million bail.
The investigation was headed by Detective Scott Pentz of the Union County Police Department with assistance from Prosecutor’s Office Detective Michael Triarsi. |
