Crime & Safety

Union County Man Charged With Kidknapping, Attempted Sexual Assault, And Stabbing Of Roselle Woman

A 23-year-old Roselle woman was kidnapped, beaten, stabbed, and almost sexually assaulted by a former acquaintance at an auto body shop Tuesday night.  

She reportedly went to Shelbourne Motorsports in Roselle around 8 p.m. to inquire about a repair when she engaged in a conversation with former acquaintance Ricky Suepoi, 52, of Westfield, according to a press release from the Union County Prosecutor's Office. 

It's estimated that around 11 p.m. Suepoi held the woman against her will inside of the body shop after striking her multiple times and allegedly threatened her with a fire arm while he attempted to order her to perform sexual acts on him. 

Over the next few hours he continued to assault the victim and made more attempts at forcing her to perform sexual acts. 

She was eventually able to contact police from the shop's bathroom with her cell phone - during the call Suepoi broke into the bathroom and began stabbing the victim with a screw driver, according to the release. 

Police arrived moments later, taking took Suepoi into custody without incident and transporting the victim to Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth. 

As police later searched the auto body shop they found a firearm, "Molly," Ecstasy, and Marijuana. 

Suepoi is charged with the following: 

  • First-degree kidnapping
  • Two counts of second-degree attempted sexual assault
  • Two counts of second-degree aggravated assault
  • Two counts of third-degree making terroristic threats
  • Fourth-degree charge of possession of an imitation firearm
  • and three drug offenses.
As of this morning, he remains lodged in Union County Jail with bail set at $500,000. 

Anyone with additional information about the activities of Mr. Suepoi is being urged to contact Roselle Police Department Detective Woody Lespinasse at 908-245-9200.


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