Police: Man Tried to Abduct Wife From Freehold Mall Parking Lot

A Middletown man is accused of trying to handcuff his estranged wife in the Freehold Raceway Mall parking lot on Friday, Freehold Township police confirmed.

Jess Blechman, 44, of Belford and his wife had agreed to meet at the lot, according to Freehold Township Detective Sgt. Jerry Kiwit.

“She goes back to his vehicle to exchange some items,” Kiwit said. “Basically he tries to handcuff her and take away in the car. He gets one handcuff on her, and she breaks free.”

Police received a call at 8:45 p.m., at which point Blechman had left the scene. Freehold Township police alerted Middletown Township police, who approached Bechman’s residence and took him into custody, Kiwit said.

Blechman was charged with criminal attempt kidnapping, aggravated assault and violation of a court order.

Blechman was remanded to Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $237,500 bail.