Off-road vehicle chase leads to 3 arrests

MILLVILLE -- Two city men and a Vineland resident were arrested after a report of illegal off-road vehicle use in Southeast Millville.

Police made the arrests last Wednesday at a garage on the 100 block of North 7th Street, where officers also impounded a pair of four-wheel all-terrain vehicles and a dirt bike.

According to police, it all started at about 4:21 p.m. on Louis Drive with a report that off-road vehicles were being driven on public roads.

Officer Julio Pumarejo arrived at Whitall Avenue and Sixsmith Street to find five vehicles, including a dirt bike, heading at him.

The vehicles stopped when they saw the cruiser and then split up, with three heading north into woods off Sixsmith Street and the other three heading west on Whitall Avenue.

One ATV stalled in the woods, but its rider jumped onto a dirt bike and escaped, police said. Police later identified that rider as Tonido T. Dixon, 23, of the 700 block of Tulip Drive, Vineland. The ATV was towed and impounded, police said.

About 5:30 p.m., Lt. Edward Zadroga notified other officers he had just seen two or three ATVs go through a car wash at 7th and Main streets and head north.

Officers Kevin Levick and Angel Lopez went in that direction and spotted three men parking ATVs in a garage behind a 7th Street house.

Police identified the men as Grant Theodore Forrest, 22, of the 300 block of East Pine Street; Joseph M. Thomas Jr., 23, of the 300 block of Quail Drive; and Dixon. Two four-wheelers and a dirt bike were found inside and impounded.

Police said Thomas and Dixon admitted to riding the dirt bike.

Thomas was charged with obstruction and cited for driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle. He was released pending court action.

Dixon was charged with obstruction and eluding, and also cited for driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle. He was released.

Forrest was charged with obstruction and resisting arrest. He tried to walk away from the scene, ignoring officers' calls to stop until another cruiser arrived in front of him, police said. Forrest also was arrested on an $81 Commercial Municipal Court warrant.

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Source: http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20100105/NEWS01/1050315/Off-road-vehicle-chase-leads-to-3-arrests

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