Teens Carjacked and Kidnapped in Toms River

Toms River Police make an arrest in the armed car-jacking/kidnapping of two teenagers. Police say a 19-year-old Manchester man was car-jacked at gun point when he went to pick up is 16-year-old girlfriend at the Main Street Apartments Monday evening. Detective Roger Hull says the suspect allegedly forced the teens to drive him to a South Toms River residence on South Main Street to purchase drugs, believed to be cocaine. He also allegedly demanded their money.

When they arrived at the house, Hull says the suspect ordered the teen girl to stay in the vehicle and took the 19-year-old driver inside with him and forced him to sit at the kitchen table, telling him that if he moves he was going to put him down.

The teen driver was able to get out of the house and escaped in his vehicle with his girlfriend, leaving the suspect at the house in South Toms River.

Hull says the teens drove to police headquarters and gave them a description. South Toms River Police later arrested a man matching a description inside a Peek and View Video. He's identified as 27-year-old Andrew Meli of Toms River, who also resides at the Main Street Apartments, and placed him in the Ocean County Jail on an Armed Robbery Charge at $125,000 bail.

Hull says the semi-automatic handgun has not been recovered at this time. Additional charges are likely as the investigation continues.