Dirt Bike Incident Leads To Aggravated Assault of Bayonne Police Officer & Arrest of Jersey City Man

Bayonne Police Captain Eric Amato says a 27-year old, Jersey City man has been arrested for assaulting a police officer following an incident with a mini dirt bike.

Elijihad Gainey of Bayview Avenue in Jersey City was taken into custody at 2:27 p.m. on Friday from the area of 46^th Street and Avenue B.  Amato says officers in the area of 7^th Street and Avenue C observed a mini dirt bike, later determined to be operated by Gainey, traveling north on Avenue C.  The officers observed the bike to not be equipped with a license plate, functional turn signals, a functional brake light, a functional headlight, and Gainley was not wearing a helmet.

As officers attempted to stop the bike, Gainey accelerated and traveled north on Avenue C in the southbound lanes while disregarding numerous stop signals.  Due to the risk involved, officers did not pursue and notified dispatch of their observations and a description of the bike.

A short time later, in the area of 13^th Street and Kennedy Boulevard, an officer observed Gainey operating the bike and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop.  Gainey again accelerated and traveled against traffic down 14^th Street towards Avenue C.  Again, due to the risk involved, the officer did not pursue and notified dispatch.

Shortly after, officers in the area of 46^th Street and Avenue B observed the bike.  Before the bike could flee, an officer grabbed hold of Gainey’s waist in an effort to apprehend him. Gainey continued to accelerate on the bike, dragging the officer on the pavement a short distance until the officer was able to physically pull him off of the bike and arrest him.  The officer was not injured.

According to Captain Amato, Gainey has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer; resisting arrest and eluding police.