Attempted Kidnapping of Lakewood Jewish Teen (Updated)

Update 01/11/2025

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s office has announced that the suspect: Quamel Benton, 36, who pled guilty to attempted kidnapping—has been sentenced today to seven years in New Jersey State Prison for attempting to abduct a Jewish teenage girl in Lakewood last year.

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By FrumNews

Lakewood, NJ – On Thursday evening, March 21, 2024, a Jewish teenage girl was walking in the area of Forest Park Circle when a man attempted to kidnap and snatch her into his vehicle. The girl, fortunately managed to escape, Baruch Hashem. The Suspect fled the scene in his vehicle.

Witnesses frantically called 911, and Police and Lakewood Shomrim responded swiftly to the scene. A massive manhunt for the suspect took place, with Shomrim working in collaboration with the Lakewood Police Department. Meanwhile, police and Lakewood Shomrim obtained surveillance footage of the vehicle.

According to Lakewood police, A few hours later, in nearby Toms River, the same suspect also attempted to kidnap another Frum young woman who was waiting in a parked car for her husband. The perpetrator was chased away.

Shortly after 1 AM, The suspect was found at Whitesville Road in Toms River at the Route 70 intersection. Toms River Police say the suspect crashed his white SUV into a utility pole, the suspect was arrested.

“At this time, the investigation is active, and the police are following up on several leads with the assistance of Shomrim, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department,” Lakewood Police said.

NEW JERSEY: A man who attempted to kidnap a girl in the Forest Park Circle area of Lakewood last night was arrested by police in Toms River after a chase and crash. Before being arrested the suspect chased a resident in his car around Walden Woods in Toms River. pic.twitter.com/903kOjbUsQ

— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) March 22, 2024