Teens Charged After Pulling Handgun On Acquaintance In Toms River: PD

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two teens have been arrested after they brandished a handgun at a woman and her friend Wednesday evening and then slashed the tires on their vehicle, Toms River police said Thursday.

The incident happened in the area of Hooper and Caudina avenues about 5 p.m. Wednesday, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

The woman told police the two teens were people she knew, and had pulled the gun on her and her friend before slashing the tires, Messina said. The teens were gone by the time police arrived, Messina said.

About an hour later, Sgt. Chris McDowell saw the vehicle the woman said the teens were driving in the area of Route 37 and Hooper Avenue. There was a brief pursuit that was terminated due to public safety concerns, and the vehicle was found unoccupied in the parking lot of the Ocean County Mall, Messina said.

Several police officers responded and found both teens, she said, and they had the handgun with them. They were arrested without incident, Messina saidm

The teens have been charged with criminal Mischief, second-degree eluding and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, charges that were approved by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, she said. Additional charges are pending, Messina said.

The main juvenile suspect was held on a warrant and taken to the Ocean County Juvenile Detention facility pending a hearing, Messina said.