Sicklerville Man Charged with Eluding Police, DWI, Assault on Police K-9

Police charged a Sicklerville man with riding a dirtbike while intoxicated and assaulting a police animal following a pursuit along Jarvis Road this weekend.

Gloucester Township Police were patrolling the area of Jarvis Road at around 2 a.m. Saturday, when suddenly two dirtbike riders pulled out in front of a patrol car traveling at a high rate of speed toward the Brittany Woods development. The riders were not wearing helmets.

Officers attempted to stop the dirtbikes, but the two operators refused to stop and continued to travel at a high rate of speed through the Brittany Woods development. One of the riders, later identified as Kevin Kelly Jr., 20, of Spicebush Court, Sicklerville, was observed entering the James W. Lilley School grounds from Prospect Avenue.

Kelly stalled the dirtbike and was attempting to restart it. He was unable to restart the dirt bike, so he abandoned it and fled off on foot into the woods, according to police.

A Gloucester Township Police K-9 team responded and began to track the suspect into the woods.

The suspect was located by a quarry and was ordered to walk out to the officers. As officers were attempting to take him into custody and walk him out from the woods, Kelly intentionally struck K-9 Arrow in the chest with his knee, at which time K-9 Arrow made an apprehension when the subject became cooperative, police said.

Kelly, who was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital, was charged with driving under the influence, eluding police with a motor vehicle, and inflicting harm to a law enforcement animal.

Kelly was lodged in Camden County Jail on $25,000 bail.

Gloucester Township Police ask for the public's assistance with any information as to the identity of the second dirtbike rider. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 856-228-4500 or leave a message on the anonymous crime tip line at 856-842-5560, or to send an email to police@gtpolice.com.