A new warning has been issued on Wale Gai, a known Level 2 sex offender in the local area. Last November, Rye PD advised the community of Gai frequenting the area, specifically the Rye Free Reading Room. Early Thursday morning May 8th, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (NYS-DCJS) issued an alert in regards to a location change for Gai to “homeless” from the status of “unknown”.
Level 2 indicates a “moderate risk of repeat offense”, according to the New York State Sex Offender Registry. State records show Gai was convicted in June of 2019 for Rape in the 3rd degree in a crime involving a 14 year old girl. The crime took place May 1, 2018 and the arresting agency was the Mount Vernon Police Department. He served one year in prison.
Gai, age 30, is a black male, 5’9”, with brown eyes and slim build. Gai is a selective mute and is known to communicate by showing text messages on his phone. On November 14th last fall, Rye PD was notified by two teens of a non-criminal encounter with a Gai at the Rye Public Library. He was interviewed by detectives at the time and stated he frequents the Rye library. The Rye PD worked with the library and issued notice to local media and the community.
State records on Gai indicate an employment address of 30 Purchase Street in Rye, which is the location for the Le Pain Quotidien bakery and coffee shop. Sources told MyRye.com last fall that there is no record of Gai working there. Last fall, another known address for Gai was 25 Operations Drive, Valhalla, which is the Westchester Community Health Center at Grasslands Homeless Shelter.
When it issued its notice last fall, PD said “the information about this individual is being disseminated to raise awareness, it is important to remember that there is no known imminent threat to the community. However, residents are encouraged to be cautious and take appropriate safety measures.”
Safety Measures
Rye PD has previously shared these safety measures
- Be Vigilant: Remain aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.
- Talk to Children: Discuss personal safety measures with your children and emphasize the importance of reporting any inappropriate behavior.
- Access Information: Information regarding registered sex offenders in New York State can be found on the New York State Sex Offender Registry website.
Other photos of Gai:
