Scotch Plains Man Charged With Kidnapping, Assaulting Teen

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — A Scotch Plains man was arrested and charged with kidnapping and assaulting a Fanwood teen.

Joel Alexander, 44 of Scotch Plains was arrested. According to Scotch Plains police, on Dec. 3, Alexander came up behind a 17-year-old of Fanwood grabbed him by the neck, punched him in the face several times and forced him into the backseat of a car. Alexander then drove the teen to an address on Mountain Avenue where he was punched numerous more times before being let out of the car. The teen walked home and contacted the police.

Officers responded to the victim’s home where emergency medical personnel were dispatched. During the investigation, the suspect was identified.

A 17-year-old male resident of Scotch Plains was also arrested and charged with being an accomplice to Kidnapping and aggravated assault and transported to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center. The victim was transported by family members to Overlook Hospital in Summit where he received treatment for abrasions and contusions to his face.