Motorcyclist who sped through crowded nj park charged and released under bail reform

Motorcyclist who sped through crowded NJ park charged and released under bail reform

Posted by
1 min read
September 1, 2025

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.

––
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.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss