On May 2, a Peekskill man was charged with deliberately placing tree limbs and other debris along a trail way used by mountain bikers at Blue Mountain Reservation, potentially exposing those bikers to serious injury.
44-year-old Jeffrey Jarvis of Peekskill, was charged with Criminal Nuisance 2nd Degree, a misdemeanor. He was booked at County Police headquarters in Hawthorne and released pending a May 19 appearance in Peekskill City Court.
The arrest stems from an investigation that began in the fall of 2024. County Police received several complaints that someone was placing tree limbs, smaller branches and other debris at the bottom of a descending rock face on a path frequently traveled by mountain bikers.
After receiving the complaints, County police officers, park rangers and park personnel made regular inspections of the remote location where the incidents were occurring. An association of mountain bikers, at its own expense, placed a trail camera in the vicinity of the rock face, also known as a granite roller by mountain biking enthusiasts. A potential suspect was identified but there was insufficient evidence to bring a charge.
But a more recent video resulted in the arrest of Jarvis, who was formally charged April 29.
Blue Mountain Reservation is a 1,538-acre County park in Peekskill and Cortlandt. It features 20 miles of trails for mountain biking and additional trails for hiking, horseback riding and nature study.
