New Bedford Police Arrest Dirt Bike Rider for Reckless Driving

NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford police say a city man has been arrested after he allegedly crashed a dirt bike into a car while carrying four bags of marijuana.

Just after 5:30 p.m. Thursday, police officers responded to a reported vehicle and motorcycle crash at Grove and Cottage streets.

Police said the car driver told officers that as she was turning onto Grove Street, she was hit by a dirt bike.

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The dirt bike rider was identified as 22-year-old Justin Cardoza of Capitol Street.

Cardoza told the officers he couldn’t remember anything, as he was not wearing a helmet and hit his head during the crash, according to police.

He was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Police said Cardoza was also found to have four bags of marijuana weighing more than two ounces.

He is being charged with reckless operation of an unregistered/uninsured recreational vehicle on a public way without a helmet, as well as possessing with intent to distribute a class D drug.

According to police, the owner of the dirt bike was identified as 21-year-old Brandin Gonsalves of 32 Viall St.

Gonsalves has been issued a citation for allowing an unlicensed person to operate an unregistered or uninsured vehicle in a public way.

At the start of June New Bedford police announced an initiative to crack down on illegal use of recreational vehicles, called Operation Safe Streets.

Anyone with information on illegal vehicles or their drivers is asked to contact the police department.

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