Man charged after alleged kidnapping in Randolph, victim found handcuffed in car after Sussex County pursuit
RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — A Roselle man has been charged with dozens of serious criminal offenses in connection with an alleged kidnapping in Randolph earlier this month, following a multijurisdictional investigation and pursuit, authorities announced Friday.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Morris County Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, New Jersey State Police Col. Pat Callahan, Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada, Andover Township Police Chief Eric Danielson, Bayonne Police Chief Joseph Scerbo and Randolph Police Chief Will Harzula announced that Akram Elsayed, 28, of Roselle, was charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping, which occurred Dec. 5, 2025.
According to authorities, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the parents of the adult victim contacted the Bayonne Police Department after becoming concerned for her safety when she failed to pick up her children from school and could not be reached. An investigation traced the victim to the County College of Morris in Randolph, where Randolph police officers located her vehicle in a parking lot along with her damaged cellphone.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed the victim walking to her vehicle and being approached by the defendant. Additional video depicted the defendant’s vehicle leaving the college parking lot while the victim’s vehicle remained unoccupied.
At about 9:40 p.m., police received a tip regarding the defendant’s possible whereabouts in Andover Township. Officers from multiple agencies located the vehicle and apprehended the Elsayed following a pursuit involving the Newton Police Department, Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, Andover Township Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police. Investigators said officers observed a black Hi-Point Model C9 handgun on the ground near the open driver’s side door.
The victim was found in the front passenger seat of the vehicle, handcuffed to the grab handle, authorities said. She was transported to an area hospital for evaluation.
Elsayed was transported to the Andover Township Police Department along with his vehicle and later taken to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending future court proceedings.
As of Dec. 12, prosecutors said Elsayed has been charged with four counts of first-degree carjacking; four counts of first-degree kidnapping; two counts of second-degree burglary; three counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; three counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun; three counts of third-degree certain persons not to possess weapons; two counts of third-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; one count of fourth-degree aggravated assault; two counts of third-degree criminal restraint; two counts of third-degree terroristic threats; two counts of second-degree attempted aggravated sexual assault; four counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact; six counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault; one count of second-degree eluding; one count of fourth-degree endangering another person; one count of fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence; one count of fourth-degree obstructing the administration of law; one disorderly persons offense for prohibited weapons and devices; and two counts of fourth-degree contempt.
The investigation remains ongoing.
“This arrest was the result of the combined efforts of several law enforcement agencies – Bayonne Police Department, Andover Township Police Department, Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, Newton Police Department, NJSP, Randolph Police Department, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Digital Forensic, Intel, and Major Crimes units,” Carroll said. “Thanks to swift and coordinated action by law enforcement in Morris, Hudson, Sussex counties and our state partners, we were able to locate the victim and bring an end to this dangerous situation peacefully. We believe this was a targeted incident, and there was no danger to students or faculty of the Community College of Morris.”
Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200.
