An 18-year-old and a 16-year-old were scammed in an attempted drug sale, according to police
HOWELL TOWNSHIP-- Two Marlboro residents face a number of charges after attacking a township youth they incorrectly believed was involved with a purported drug dealer who ripped them off, police said Friday.
Moamem Abdelmeguid, 18, and a 16-year-old whose identity was withheld due to his age were arrested Thursday and charged with kidnapping, terroristic threats, burglary, simple assault and drug offenses following an investigation by detectives Eric Encarnacion, David Gilliland and Robert Ortenzi.
According to police, Abdelmeguid and the teen arrived at the Windmill Club development around 6:30 p.m. Thursday planning to buy drugs from Joseph Arnold, 19. Arnold took the cash and fled without handing over the drugs, police also said.
The two went looking for Arnold before heading to a home where Arnold falsely told them he lived.
When the juvenile and Abdelmeguid arrived, they encountered a teenaged male who was not involved in the drug deal. But mistakenly believing he knew Arnold, the two grabbed the victim, subdued him with a chokehold and forced him into a car where they threatened to shoot him if he did not disclose Arnold's whereabouts, police said.
The two drove around the neighborhood for a few minutes looking for Arnold then returned to the victim's home, where they also searched for Arnold, before finally driving away. The victim was unhurt.
The victim immediately contacted police just as a police officer stopped Abdelmeguid and the juvenile for suspicious activity unrelated to the earlier crimes, police said. He arrested the pair for possession of drug paraphernalia and they were linked to the kidnapping after the victim arrived at police headquarters.
Abdelmeguid was being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute and the teen suspect was released to his parents. Arnold was arrested and charged with theft and conspiracy to distribute drugs.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.