NEWARK -- Several riders were arrested and their off-road vehicles confiscated after police said a large group of dirt bikes and ATVs rallied in Newark on Sunday.
Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said the riders reeked havoc on Newark's South Ward Sunday afternoon, disrupting traffic and damaging police vehicles in collisions.
"This will not be tolerated," Abrose said in a statement issued Sunday night.
Ambrose said some of vehicles were from out of town, apparently drawn to a rally in Newark. The exact number of arrests was not immediately available from police Sunday night.
Despite a crackdown by Newark Police, dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles have become a common if illegal presence on city streets as central elements of a subculture popularized by footage of wheelies and other trick riding posted on YouTube.
With their nubby tires and nimble handling, police say the off-road vehicles can flee patrol cars via sidewalks, outdoor stairways, through parks or down narrow alleys. So in some cases, Newark police have taken to using a department helicopter to track the vehicles.
Ambrose said police made 7 arrests, towed 19 transport vehicles and or trailers and 10 ATV's, after several quads and off-road motorcycles were riding in groups at various locations throughout the city.
Jovan Jenkins, 33, of New York City, was charged with eluding and resisting arrest, and Jerry Hayes, 20, of Newark, was charged with receiving a stolen auto, Ambrose said.
Marcus Hanford, 32, of Passaic, Darius Jackson, 25, of New York City, Daqua Dredden, 21, of Baltimore, Md., Davis Jackson, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Isiah Jordan, 20, of Chester, Pa., were charged with eluding, Ambrose said.
Ambrose said two patrol cars were damaged during an encounter at Irvine Turner Boulevard and West Peddie Streets.
He said riders vandalized the cars when officers exited them to arrest one of their accomplices. While the two officers were struggling to keep the suspect from fleeing, other riders kicked the two police cars and broke the car's windows and mirrors.
Ambrose said one motorcyclist collided with a New Jersey Transit bus at Pennsylvania Avenue and Lincoln Park, and was issued summonses and hospitalized for his injuries.
Detectives from the department's special enforcement bureau located several trucks and trailers used to transport the vehicles into Newark from out of town, Ambrose said.
Many of them were U-Haul rental vehicles or were registered in neighboring states, including New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland, and from as far away as Florida, Ambrose said.
In total 10 quads and 19 transport vehicles were towed, pending an investigation to determine their origin, Ambrose said.
Mayor Ras Baraka issued a statement saying, "The menace that is caused by the operation of these illegal vehicles in the City of Newark will not be tolerated."
Ambrose urged anyone with information about the transport of illegal vehicles or their whereabouts to call the Department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Tips are kept confidential and could result in a reward.
Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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