A beloved NYPD Manhattan homicide detective – who notably investigated the horrific beating of a 44-year-old mom on Randall’s Island in the spring – has retired after more than four decades of service.
Detective Charles Freitag, of Long Beach, ceremonially walked out of the 23rd Precinct Friday – the same stationhouse where he’d worked as both an officer and detective for 30 out of his 42 years on the job.
“This is my home,” said Freitag, who was flanked by his wife Liset and his two college-aged kids, Charles and Jacqueline.
Detective Charles Freitag, a renowned NYPD detective, has retired after being on the job for over 40 years.
“I walked in here in 1983. It went so quick but that was because I don’t think I had a miserable day.”
Most recently, Freitag helped crack the case surrounding the brutal, unprovoked beating of Diana Agudelo, 44, on Randall’s Island that left her with a severe brain bleed and in need of two life-saving emergency surgeries.
Miguel Jiraud, 30 – who was out on parole for a rape conviction and wearing an ankle monitor – allegedly ambushed Agudelo and bludgeoned her as she pedaled her e-bike down an isolated bike path near 600 E. 125th St. on Randall’s Island late May 16, cops and sources said at the time.
He then allegedly stole her bike, only to throw it into the Harlem River a short time later, prosecutors said.
The attack prompted a week-long NYPD investigation that eventually zeroed in on Jiraud – the 911 caller who initially directed authorities to the bloodied, unresponsive Agudelo roughly six hours after the senseless attack, sources said.
Freitag notably investigated the horrific beating of 44-year-old mom Diana Agudelo on Randall’s Island in the spring as he worked both as an officer and detective during his 42-year career with the NYPD.
Jiraud was arrested and charged with attempted murder, robbery and assault, according to the DA’s Office.
Now, Freitag says he still regularly visits Agudelo.
“I was glad I made an arrest,” the detective said.
“I go visit her every week in the hospital. What a brutal attack, so sad. How could someone do this to her?”
Freitag, who arrested the attacker Miguel Jiraud, 30, said he was glad he made the arrest and has visited Aguedlo every week at the hospital, who is still recovering from the brutal attack.
He also investigated Arohn Kee, who was convicted of terrorizing teen girls in East Harlem in the ‘90s – murdering three and raping four others.
Kee has since been sentenced to 400 years behind bars, federal prosecutors said in 2003.
“There was nothing as satisfying as getting a confession and solving a homicide, telling the family that we made an arrest and giving them a little closure,” Freitag said.
He was also involved in investigating a brutal murder, rape and sodomy case in East Harlem from December of 1995.
The longtime NYPD detective also investigated Arohn Kee, who was convicted of murdering three teen girls and raping four others in East Harlem back in the ‘90s, and was later sentenced to 400 years behind bars.
One of the perpetrators, Tyrone Davis, was busted more than two years later, according to a Daily News report.
Freitag described his work with the NYPD – and the Manhattan Homicide Squad specifically – as “my calling.”
“Every day, I said a prayer which ended with, ‘Let me leave this day a little better for someone else,’” the now-retired investigator said.
Freitag said that if he “was 20 years old tomorrow,” he would repeat his NYPD career “again in a heartbeat.”
“It was the best job in the world,” he said.
Now, Freitag is looking forward to driving his kids to college in Florida – without worrying about requesting time off – and dreams of traveling to Normandy.
