Shelter Island Man From Spain Arrested At JFK, Charged With Rape: Police

August 2, 2025 1

He had cleared security and was at the gate: PD. A LinkedIn page says he may have worked at a children’s summer camp; police didn’t confirm.

SHELTER ISLAND, NY — A Shelter Island man was arrested after a reported rape, police said.

According to Shelter Island police, Manuel Escalara Ibanez, 23, of Madrid, Spain, was arrested at JFK Airport on July 21 at 10:22 p.m. He was charged with first-degree rape, a B felony, and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, a Class A misdemeanor, police said.

After an investigation into the alleged rape, Escalara Ibanez, who was in the United States on a J-1 visa, was apprehended at JFK by Shelter Island detectives, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, police said.

Shelter Island Police Chief James Read told Patch: “Due to the sensitive nature of this case and our obligation to protect the privacy and well-being of the victim, the Shelter Island Police Department is limited in the amount of detail we can confirm beyond what has already been made public.”

Escalera Ibanez, to his knowledge, remains in custody at this time, he said.

He added: “Out of respect for the victim and in accordance with New York State law, we are not releasing any identifying information, including age. That said, it is important to clarify that the underlying rape charge is not based on statutory age.”

Ibanez, Read said, “had cleared security and was at the gate when taken into custody. The timing and circumstances of his location were key factors in the urgency of our response.”

He was arrested and transported to the Shelter Island Police Department, where he was processed and held pending arraignment; he was subsequently arraigned and remanded to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in lieu of $150,000 cash bail and $500,000 partially secured bond, police said.

He surrendered his passport and, if released, must stay in New York State until further direction is given from the court, police said. An order of protection was given to the victim, police said.

According to his LinkedIn, a man by the same name worked as a waterfront safety instructor at Safety Instructor Quinipet Camp & Retreat Center, a Methodist children’s camp on Shelter Island. Police could not confirm that information and Camp Quinipet’s communications department did not immediately return an email request for comment — and it was not possible to leave a message at the phone number given.

Source: https://patch.com/new-york/northfork/shelter-island-man-spain-arrested-jfk-charged-rape-police

Written by: Joshua Stuart

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