2 Marlboro Teens Kidnap Male After Alleged Drug Dealer Gives Fake Address: Police

HOWELL, NJ — Two Marlboro teens have been charged with kidnapping and making terroristic threats after they grabbed a male victim and threatened to shoot him in an attempt to find another man who allegedly stiffed them on drug deal, Howell police said.

Moamen Abdelmeguid, 18, and his 16-year-old accomplice, both of Marlboro, were arrested Thursday, Howell Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said. Police are not releasing the 16-year-old's name due to his age, Antunez said.

Abdelmeguid and the 16-year-old came to the Windmill Club development in Howell about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday to buy drugs from Joseph Arnold, 19, of Howell, Antunez said. Abdelmeguid and his accomplice gave Arnold money for drugs but Arnold took the money and ran without giving them the drugs, Antunez said.

Infuriated, Abdelmeguid and the 16-year-old went looking for Arnold to get their drugs or get their money back, Antunez said. They went to a home Arnold said was his address, but the home was that of a male who has no relationship whatsoever to any of the involved parties, Antunez said. Arnold had given Abdelmeguid and the 16-year-old a fake address, he said.

The victim told police the suspects grabbed the victim in a choke hold and forced him into the back of their car against his will, Antunez said. They then threatened to shoot the victim if he didn’t turn Arnold over to them, he said. Despite the victim's insistence that he did not know Arnold, Abdelmeguid and the 16-year-old drove the victim around the neighborhood for about five minutes, looking for Arnold, Antunez said.

Abdelmeguid and the 16-year-old returned to the victim’s house and forced the victim to allow them into his home to search for Arnold, who they never located, Antunez said. Abdelmeguid and the 16-year-old left the area, and the victim immediately went to headquarters to notify police, he said.

The victim did not sustain any injuries in the assault, Antunez said.

Detectives Robert Ortenzi, Eric Encarnacion and David Gilliland and Patrolman James Conaty Jr. investigated and arrested Abdelmeguid and the 16-year-old and charged them with kidnapping, terroristic threats, burglary, simple assault and drug-related offenses, Antunez said.

They also found and arrested Arnold and charged him with conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and theft, Antunez said.

Abdelmeguid was taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute in Freehold Township; the 16-year-old was released to his parents, and Arnold was released with criminal summonses, Antunez said.

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