More than 200 tickets issued in ATV and watercraft bust at Heritage Minerals in Manchester

MANCHESTER−Police broke up a gathering of some 200 people Saturday at the Heritage Minerals site, many on all-terrain vehicles and jet skis, as part of a weekend of enforcement there that produced 221 citations.

The summonses were for municipal ordinance infractions, disorderly persons complaints−most if not all for trespassing−and motor vehicle violations issued Friday through Sunday, Manchester police said Monday.

On Saturday alone, the department issued 90 disorderly persons summonses.

The investigation was part of a special enforcement detail following noise and parking complaints from residents living in adjoining neighborhoods of Suncrest Village, Pine Acres Manor, Summit Park, and Leisure Village West. The Ocean County Sheriff's Department, Toms River police and the New Jersey State Police Aviation and Marine units assisted.

This weekend wasn't the first time law enforcement officers descended on the property to quell noise and trespassing.

"It seems to be getting progressively worse," said Capt. Vincent Manco of the Manchester Police Department.

Most complaints were about loud music and motorized vehicles, like dirt bikes, ATVs, jet skis and other types of watercraft, he said.

More:Howell man indicted in drowning death at Heritage Minerals site in Manchester

The 7,000-acre quarry between Routes 37 and 70 in Manchester was originally owned by the American Smelting and Refining Company Inc., ASARCO as it is still known locally. After buying the quarry, Heritage Minerals ran it until the end of mining operations there in the early 1980s.

The property was mined so deeply that bodies of water formed in the mining pits, referred to as “lakes” by locals but actually aquifers with unstable shorelines and bottoms. Unlike lakes, the banks of the waterholes do not slope but drop off like a cliff to the depths of some 60 feet. The bottoms of the pits, however, are thought to be much deeper.

Several drownings have occurred there.

It is still privately owned and posted with no trespassing signs.

Police warned people to stay out or face heavy fines and possible jail time.

Police Chief Robert Dolan said quality of life problems will remain the department's focus as it deals with the issues at the mines.

Ken Serrano covers crime, breaking news, local issues and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: ATV party busts at Heritage Minerals in Manchester NJ nets 221 tickets