the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Twp. of Washington NJ, on Thursday May 15, 2025 at approximately 2046 Hrs, Township of Washington Police Department received a report that a juvenile was “hurt” by their Coach, Mr. Ruben Baerga of New Jersey Striders.
After a thorough and complete investigation which included video evidence, Mr. Ruben Baerga, 62 years old from Westwood New Jersey, was arrested by Township Police. Baerga was charged with the following:
24.4.A2 – Endangering the welfare of child (2nd Degree)
9:6.3 – Cruelty neglect of a child (4th degree)
2C:12-1(A) Simple Assault
Baerga works for a private company (NJ Striders) which is not affiliated with the Westwood Regional School District. New Jersey Striders Track Club is a non-profit Track & Field club. We are centered in Northern New Jersey and have members from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. We compete in local and national races and meets.
The NJ Striders are involved in youth, open, and masters competitions with an emphasis on youth. Each year we organize several youth Track & Field competitions in April, May, and June. Each year we also hold a series of open / masters competitions in June and July. These meets are held at various locations in Northern NJ.
But according to according to NJ Striders secretary Ed Koch clarified that Baerga is not affiliated with the organization. Rather, he is a volunteer coach for Westwood, one of 15 local youth teams that attend weekend meets hosted by the Striders.
Baerga is currently lodged at the Bergen County Jail awaiting his Court date.
Criminal Charges and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Your information is incorrect. There are fifteen town teams that attend New Jersey Striders youth meets. Mr Baerga is a volunteer youth coach of one of those fifteen town teams -Westwood. Nine of those teams are recreation programs in their towns but Westwood track & field is one of six independent teams. Mr Baerga does not work for the Striders and never has.
Was a volunteer youth coach.
From my experience being a helper on sports for my kids, some of these coaches are really screwed up in the head, they think their coaching professional sports, and some of these parents got their head show up their ass. I think their kid is going to be the next big athlete. 30 years ago it’s either you had it or you didn’t. Now we have schools that make athletes. But some of these coaches are so abusive. I never took their shit. I went right up to them and I told them you treat my kid like a piece of shit. Talk down to them be a little them. I’m not right down your throat. They weren’t so tough.