A suspended Manalapan Township, New Jersey, police officer has been charged with engaging in a pattern of unlawful conduct involving two teenage girls, the Monmouth County District Attorney announced Thursday.

Kevin Ruditsky, 47, faces numerous charges including engaging in a pattern of misconduct, criminal computer activity, endangering the welfare of a child, hindering apprehension, impersonating a law enforcement officer ( while suspended from duty) and tracking.

An investigation began in August 2023 after information was obtained that Ruditsky was sending inappropriate messages and photos to one of the victims, who was 16 at the time, according to officials.

The investigation revealed that the inappropriate behavior began during Manalapan Township’s 2023 National Night Out, an annual community outreach event involving numerous police departments nationwide.

At this event, officials say Ruditsky was in full uniform when he allowed the 16-year-old victim to sit in his patrol car. Following that event, later that evening and in the following days, he allegedly began sending the victim sexually explicit messages and photos via social media, despite the victim informing him of her age, officials said in a press release.

Investigators also said Ruditsky stopped the victim while she was driving on Route 9, illegally handcuffed her and tried to kiss her while his dash cam and body-worn camera were off.

In another incident, while Ruditsky was on duty, prosecutors say he parked his marked patrol car in front of the 16-year-old victim’s home in the middle of the night after she refused to give him the address.

Officials also said Ruditsky sent inappropriate messages to another victim in December 2022, who was 17 at the time. Additionally, he conducted improper searches of both victims in a law enforcement database that was beyond the scope of any legitimate law enforcement purpose.

Anyone with information on this or related matters is urged to contact MCPO Detective Gregory Hilton II at 800-533-7443.

NBC10 has reached out to the attorney representing Ruditsky, but has not yet heard back.

Sign up with us It breaks the newsletter to get the most urgent news in your inbox.