BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ — A man who allegedly sped through a densely packed public event on a motorcycle, ignoring police attempts to stop him, was charged and released without bail under New Jersey’s bail reform laws.
According to police, the incident unfolded Saturday around 4 p.m. at Veterans Park, where a large public gathering featuring food trucks and live music was underway. Officials say 18-year-old Dominick P. Schena of Beachwood rode a motorcycle recklessly through the park while it was filled with pedestrians and heavy vehicle traffic.
Uniformed officers in marked patrol cars attempted to stop the motorcycle using sirens, lights, and hand signals, but Schena reportedly ignored them and fled the park at high speed.
The Berkeley Township Police Department later released a photo and request for public assistance on social media. The post was widely circulated, and Schena voluntarily turned himself in shortly after.
He was charged with second-degree eluding police under New Jersey criminal code N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2b. Due to his low Public Safety Assessment (PSA) score, Schena was issued a summons and released, in accordance with the state’s bail reform guidelines.
No injuries were reported in the incident. The investigation is ongoing.
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Key Points
- Dominick Schena allegedly rode a motorcycle recklessly through a crowded park during a public event
- Police say he ignored officers’ attempts to stop him and later turned himself in
- He was charged with eluding but released under New Jersey’s bail reform laws
An 18-year-old rode through a sea of festivalgoers and walked free hours later under state release rules.