WILDWOOD – Wheels of Soul Motorcycle Club Member Chad B. Johnson, 27, from Newark, Del., was arrested for weapons offenses Sept. 12 during the Roar to the Shore Motorcycle Rally held in Wildwood, County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Chief Robert Regalbuto of the Wildwood Police Department announced Sept. 14.
On the afternoon of Sept. 12, detectives from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and patrol officers from the Wildwood Police Department observed approximately 100 members of the Wheels of Soul as they entered the City of Wildwood and proceeded to ride past the 3900 block of Atlantic Avenue. A brief, non-violent incident then occurred between the Wheels of Soul and the Pagan’s motorcycle clubs. After police disbursed the two groups, members of the Wheels of Soul congregated on the 400 West block of Rio Grande Avenue in Wildwood. While there, detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office observed Johnson in possession of a handgun, at which time he was taken into custody without incident.
Johnson was found to be in possession of a loaded .38 caliber handgun, brass knuckles and a knife. Johnson was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose for the firearm, both crimes of the second degree, along with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose for the knife and brass knuckles, crimes of the fourth degree. Bail was set by Judge Garrabrant, JMC at $105,000 full cash and Johnson was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center in lieu of bail.
Individuals charged with crimes of the second degree could be sentenced to 5-10 years in New Jersey State prison and fourth degree crimes can have a penalty of up to 18 months in state prison.
Prosecutor Taylor commended the cooperative efforts between the members of the Wildwood Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office who assisted in this incident.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
