Naked Man Arrested in Fort Lee after Encounter with 12-Year-Old, Police Say

A 42-year-old man was arrested for lewdness Tuesday evening in Fort Lee after approaching a 12-year-old Leonia girl nude in his minivan, police say.

Around 6 p.m. Tuesday, Leonia police lieutenant Tom Rowe said, the “completely naked” man pulled alongside a 12-year-old girl walking along Broad Avenue in Leonia. The victim ran from the car and straight to the police department to report the incident.

The department broadcasted a description of the car to surrounding towns, and Fort Lee Officer Ralph Liquori found the car on 12th Street less than an hour later, its driver shirtless, according to police.

Police say that when Liquori went to pull the minivan over, the driver could be seen pulling up his pants. The man was brought to police headquarters where he was positively identified by the victim.

The man, who police identified as Fort Lee resident Kyeongbok Bang, has a prior arrest in Leonia for lewd conduct in 2010 and was being processed by Leonia police Tuesday night.

Rowe credited the victim’s immediate reporting of the encounter and the “great instincts” of Liquori in spotting the minivan and quickly bringing the man in.