Dirt Bikers Who Harassed Workers Sought By Galloway Police

GALLOWAY, NJ — Police are seeking two dirt bike riders who harassed workers when trespassing at the new Galloway Nature Preserve.

The township is making improvements to what was formerly Ole Hansen's gravel pit, but dirt bikers and ATV riders are trespassing and damaging the property, Galloway police said.

On Oct. 24, two dirt bikers rode inside the preserve and were asked to leave by employees, police said. Instead, the two "made obscene gestures, and taunted workers by driving their bikes in the workers direction spraying them with rocks, dirt, and debris," police said.

When police arrived, the riders fled north on Old Port Road, police said. Before the incident, they were reported to be driving down the center of New York Road and on other roadways in the area, according to police.

"While many members of our community (including members of our Police Department) are motor sports enthusiasts, the actions of these particular individuals are destructive as well as extremely dangerous for them, our preserve workers, and our motoring public," police said. "Any damage to public property, specifically our public parks, victimizes our taxpayers."

The preserve will one day be "a peaceful public space full of hiking paths, mountain biking trails, sledding hills, and a Disk Golf course," according to police.

"Unfortunately, some dirt bike and ATV operators still continue to trespass and ride on the property, which is destroying the restoration and improvement efforts," police said.

Anyone who can identify the two riders is asked to contact Sgt. Kevin Costa at kcosta@gtpd.org.