“The Caldwell Police Department Detective Bureau is seeking help identifying the male pictured on a dirt bike involved in Motor Vehicle Incidents in Caldwell. Similar incidents occurred in Essex Fells and Fairfield. Anyone who has information or can identify the male please contact Caldwell Detective Sergeant Andrew Apicella or Caldwell Detective William Roberts. ” ~ Caldwell Police Detective Sergeant Andrew Apicella
The Caldwell Police Department announced that they are seeking the identity of a dirt bike rider they believe is one of the individuals involved in motor vehicle incidents that occurred around West Essex during Thanksgiving.
Early Thanksgiving morning and during Thanksgiving Day afternoon, police from Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield, and West Caldwell monitored the behavior of two males, described as “kids,” who were putting their lives and the lives of those around them in danger as they rode on dirt bikes at high rates of speed. Reportedly, the pair intentionally drove into oncoming traffic on Route 46 and Bloomfield Avenue over the course of about 30 minutes on Thanksgiving Day.
THURSDAY, NOV. 25, 2021
12:50am
- Caldwell Police attempted to pull over a rider on a dirt bike driving east on Bloomfield Avenue near Arlington Avenue.
- The rider ignored patrol and continued east past University Drive.
- No description of the rider was released at that time.
12:52am
- The rider turned around and drove west on Bloomfield Avenue, out of the sight of the officer
- West Caldwell Police were alerted
2am
The following incident may be connected:
- West Caldwell Police responded after callers near Washington School reported a large group of unsupervised juveniles who were yelling and throwing things
2:05am
- A patrol officer reported a dirt biker on Roseland Avenue turning onto Eagle Rock Avenue who did a wheelie as they passed the patrol car
2:15am
- Callers report juveniles still heard on Central Avenue, West Caldwell
2:20am
- Police advised the juveniles that they were disturbing the neighborhood
_____
Thanksgiving Day afternoon during the middle of holiday travel congestion, Caldwell Police, Fairfield Police, and West Caldwell Police began monitoring two teens riding in and out of traffic on Route 46 and Bloomfield Avenue and intentionally driving the wrong way into oncoming traffic.
3:15pm
- West Caldwell Police reported that the "same two kids from Wednesday night" were traveling at a high rate of speed on dirt bikes in the west lane of Bloomfield Avenue, West Caldwell.
- No plates were seen on either bike.
Police described the dirt bikers as:
- two male kids
- wearing camouflage-patterned facemasks
- possibly Hispanic or African American
3:20pm
- The kids were traveling west on Bloomfield Avenue and passing Passaic Avenue, West Caldwell
3:23pm
- After passing the Toyota Dealership and approaching the Ford Dealership, the two kids continued traveling west but in the eastbound lane of Bloomfield Avenue into oncoming traffic
3:24pm
Fairfield and West Caldwell Police reported that the two kids split up.
- The one rider went off towards Montville and ended up traveling west in the eastbound lane of Route 46.
- The second juvenile rode on Oak Road to Brook Street heading towards Clinton Road.
3:25pm
Police followed the second male as he traveled on Clinton Road traveling into West Caldwell
- From Clinton Road, the rider turned onto Bloomfield Avenue traveling east in the westbound lane at a high rate of speed.
3:26pm
- A rider was again seen traveling in the correct direction on Oak Road.
3:46pm
- Both dirt bike riders were reported by Caldwell Police traveling eastbound in the westbound lane of Bloomfield Avenue into oncoming traffic.
Police Seek Information
Caldwell Police released an image of one of the riders they believe is involved in these incidents.
MALE
- Light skinned
- Wearing:
Grey and black jacket with a hood
Black Adidas pants
Tan boots
Black mask covering the lower half of his face - No helmet
DIRT BIKE
- White, with a black seat
One single headlight
No visible license plate
CONTACT POLICE
Contact Detective Sergeant Andrew Apicella and Detective William Roberts:
- 973-226-2602
- caldwelldb@caldwellpd.org
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