Plainfield man convicted of assaulting officer with dirt bike during Route 22 incident

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SOMERVILLE, NJ – A 39-year-old Plainfield man was sentenced Friday to 364 days in jail for assaulting a North Plainfield police officer during a chaotic dirt bike incident on Route 22 in April 2022, authorities said.

Victor Ogando-Marte was convicted of third-degree aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, third-degree resisting arrest and disorderly persons causing bodily harm with a deadly weapon. Judge Peter J. Tober, presiding judge of the Somerset County Superior Court, emphasized the need to discourage such behavior at sentencing.

The incident occurred during rush hour on April 13, 2022, when Ogando-Marte and a group of 15 to 20 others were illegally and recklessly operating dirt bikes on Route 22. Testimony showed the group weaving through traffic, performing stunts and obstructing vehicles . near the Rock Avenue intersection.

North Plainfield Police Officer James Kirchner attempted to stop Ogando-Marte, who then used his dirt bike to drag the officer from the shoulder into the center of the highway, sustaining injuries. Ogando-Marte resisted arrest as other motorcyclists milled around and attacked the officer, police said.

The situation escalated thanks to the intervention of Good Samaritans, 911 callers, off-duty officers and responding backup. Ogando-Marte was subdued, while the other dirt bikers fled the scene and have not been identified.

The sentence reflects the severity of the attack and the public safety risks associated with reckless dirt bike activity, officials said.