New Jersey

Allison Pris and Kibret Markos

A state park ranger was acquitted Thursday of reckless manslaughter in the shooting of a Ramapough Indian three years ago in an incident that began as a dispute over ATV riding but escalated into a deadly shooting.

Chad Walder, who faced up to 10 years in prison in the death of Emil Mann, burst into tears and hugged his attorney as jurors in Superior Court in Hackensack returned from two days of deliberations and announced the not guilty verdict.

“I am at a loss for words,” he said later. “I can’t believe it’s over.”

HACKENSACK, N.J. - Jurors have found a New Jersey park ranger not guilty of reckless manslaughter for the deadly shooting of a member of the Ramapough (RAM'-ah-poh) Lenape Indian Nation.

The shooting happened after rangers arrested Emil Mann on charges of illegal weapons possession and stopped several others for riding all-terrain vehicles in 2006.

At trial, a lawyer for ranger Chad Walder said he was on the verge of being disarmed when he fired three times in self-defense. Mann died nine days later.

A molehill in the road must not be allowed to become a mountain along the way to turning the 120-acre Shoreline Materials sand mine in Little Egg Harbor into an off-road vehicle park. Nor should that same molehill deter the state Legislature from passing legislation that would increase penalties on the ATV riders who insist on tearing around the state illegally.

But time is of the essence in order to keep the fragile peace between the environmentalists and off-road enthusiasts. This proposed park would be the first of several planned throughout the state. The township Zoning Board should call a special meeting to keep the project moving forward.

Matt Manochio

WANTAGE -- State police arrested a Sussex man who tried cutting his neck and wrists Friday after officials tried pulling him over for driving an all-terrain vehicle while intoxicated on Route 23 and through a graveyard.

Peter Fawcett, 32, of Sussex Borough, was charged with driving while intoxicated, eluding, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a weapon, and was issued 23 motor vehicle summonses, state police said in a press release issued Monday.

Lorraine L. Gaines, 19, of the 900 block of Vineland Avenue, Rosenhayn, was arrested Sunday on a warrant from Deerfield Municipal Court. She was processed and released after posting $300 bail.

Christopher A. Chiofalo, 21, of the 4700 block of Covered Bridge Road, was charged Sunday with defi-ant trespassing in the 3900 block of South Lincoln Avenue. He was processed and released on a summons.

Ashley M. Frattali, 23, of the first block of Geneva Court, Glassboro, and Joan A. Noble, 51, of the 800 block of Timberbrook Drive, were each charged Saturday with defiant trespassing in the 1100 block of East Chestnut Avenue. They were processed and released on summonses.

Lee Procida

LACEY TOWNSHIP - Mayor John C. Parker stood recently near the nuclear plant on a dirt road that runs along 220 acres of land, which the town expects to preserve as wildlife habitat. As he began to describe his plans, the noise of a dirt bike and ATV roaring up the path drowned out his voice.

"They definitely shouldn't be out here," he said as the riders steered around him and waved.

Although it was certainly illegal - the land is private property - the scene was far from unusual.

KINNELON -- A 14-year-old boy who was riding an all terrain vehicle illegally and then ignored a police officer's signal to stop was later found and charged, police said Thursday.

An officer was dispatched to the Fayson Lakes section of town on Sunday at about 3 p.m. after police received a complaint about ATVs using roads in the area, police said.

The officer parked on Fayson Lakes Road by the Butler Reservoir and saw a red 2003 Kawasaki ATV heading toward him so he got out of his car and raised his hand to signal the rider to stop, according to police Lt. John Schwartz, a department spokesman.

Curtis Leeds

READINGTON -- Some officials want to enact rules limiting all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) that they say are a noisy "source of annoyance" to residents.

Committeeman Gerard Shamey said he's received many complaints about loud ATVs and deputy mayor Julia Allen said, "I have a problem with people on small lots torturing their neighbors" with the recreational vehicles noise, a problem she once had years ago when living in Bridgewater.

The township police department has four officers certified to test noise levels, Committeeman Frank Gatti said at Monday's Township Committee meeting. "The problem is most of the time the noise is gone by the time the police show up," he said. He wants the committee to enact new rules limiting ATV use next year.

Daniel Walsh

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP - When township officials strengthened local laws against illegal ATV riding, they knew they were part of a trend.

They may not have realized how far that trend reaches.

A state Assembly committee passed a bill Thursday that would allow law enforcement to impound all-terrain vehicles for riding illegally on public land.