VINELAND – A farmer and a dirt-biker smashed up one-another's trucks and engaged in a brief chase after the cyclist drove through the farmer's fields without permission, tearing up his crops, according to city police.

The bike-rider, 20-year-old Joshua Headley of Delsea Drive in Pitman, was arrested and charged with unauthorized operation of a motor vehicle on land, simple assault, two counts each of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon and criminal mischief.

Farmer Anthony Castellini called police Nov. 8 from an address on the 3100 block of South Main Road, saying that a trespasser was breaking out his vehicle's windows.

An officer arrived and saw Castellini leaning against a pickup truck. He said he was working on his farm on the 3600 block of South Lincoln Avenue when he saw Headley tearing through his farm field on his dirt bike and continuing into the nearby Morie Pit.

He said he saw Headley again driving through the field recklessly a short time later and tried to stop him and tell him he was not allowed on the property. Castellini said he pulled up beside Headley in his truck but Headley, uninterested in conversation, took off toward his truck that was also parked on Castellini's property.

Castellini chased him there and said that he approached Headley as he was loading his bike into his truck bed, at which point Headley ripped off his helmet and balled his fists in an implied invitation to fight. He said Headley started to curse at him then grabbed the aluminum ramp he used to load the bike and started to walk toward him with the metal.

Castellini claimed that he took a 5-foot red steel pole from the bed of his truck, and tossed it in Headley's direction in an effort to defend himself. He said Headley snatched the pipe from the ground and began to chase him around the property. He said he ran off and Headley finished loading the motorcycle then fled.

Castellini said he followed Headley and had a family member call the police, ultimately pulling in behind Headley at the South Main Road address. He said Headley immediately exited his vehicle and, using the pipe which he had saved from the farm altercation, began to smash up the windshield, hood, bug guard, headlight and grill of Castellini's truck. He said that Headley then walked away as they both awaited an officer's arrival.

The officer did see damage to Castellini's pickup that was consistent with his story, and the farmer estimated the damage caused to his vehicle would cost $750 to repair.

Headley told a slightly different story. He admitted he rode through the farm field to get to the Morie Pit, and said he has ridden through for years without a problem, although he did not have written permission to do so. He said Castellini tried to stop him from leaving, and then pushed him to the ground as he was loading his Kawasaki 250F dirt bike into his truck and began to threaten him.

He said he grabbed his aluminum ramp to defend himself, at which point Castellini took up the steel pipe and whacked his truck with it, then tossed the pipe at Headley's feet. Headley said he picked up the pipe, put it into his truck, and left the area.

He said Castellini then followed him. Headley said he became aggravated because Castellini assaulted him then followed him, so he took the pipe and started hitting Castellini's truck with it.

The officer saw there was damage to Headley's truck consistent with it having been hit with a pipe, due to some red paint transfer. Castellini said he just threw the pipe toward Headley and did not intentionally hit the truck. Headley estimated the damage would cost $400 to repair.

Headley was unable to provide proof of ownership for the bike, so it was taken by A1 towing. Tow yard employees located a VIN number on the cycle and determined it was not stolen.

Headley was arrested and charged, then released on summonses. The officer advised him what steps he could take to file a complaint against Castellini.