Maryland Police Says Officers ‘Permitted To Use Force’ After Videos Spread Of Violent Arrest
Following recordings showing violent arrests, Maryland police said officers are ‘permitted to use force’ in situations of resistance.
Regarding the circulation of social media footage online an officer driving his knee into a man and another officer deploying a Taser during an incident with multiple arrests, police in Ocean City, Md., issued a statement Sunday saying officers “are permitted to use force” on subjects resisting arrest.
Officers contacted a large group of people who were vaping in a prohibited location on the boardwalk about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, and the incident escalated.
“We are aware of the social media videos circulating regarding this incident. Our officers are permitted to use force, per their training, to overcome exhibited resistance. All uses of force go through a detailed review process. The uses of force from these arrests will go through a multi-level examination by the Assistant Patrol Commander, the Division Commander and then by the Office of Professional Standards.” the statement read.
A guy with his hands raised stands in front of a group of police in one video. He can be heard being ordered to the ground by the officers. The guy appears to drop one hand to do something which then led the cop to use his taser. Witnesses scream as the guy cries and falls on the ground.
Warning: Video below has graphic language
Police in Ocean City Maryland tasered a 17-year-old teenager after they accused him of vaping yesterday. pic.twitter.com/PVzagAV5i1
— Rebecca Kavanagh (@DrRJKavanagh) June 13, 2021
Another set of Instagram videos seems to show a huge number of policemen building up a perimeter on the boardwalk while making many arrests. When a group of cops is shown restraining a guy on the ground, one cop continually pushes his knee into the guy.
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As a big gathering of onlookers gathered, officers could be heard saying, “Back up!”
A guy and an officer can be seen struggling with one another in a later video provided by the account. After that, an officer uses a Taser to bring the guy to the ground.
According to police, the incident started when officers saw a large gathering of people vaping in an area where it was prohibited by local smoking rules and notified them of the law. After watching a male in the group begin vaping again as they walked away, officers approached the group again to discuss the offense.
According to police, the guy, 19-year-old Brian Everett Anderson of Harrisburg, Pa., refused to provide his identification and got disruptive as a huge crowd gathered around the cops. According to police, they tried to arrest Anderson for failing to present identification and breaching the smoking ban, but he resisted.
During Anderson’s “lawful arrest,” 19-year-old Kamere Anthony Day, also of Harrisburg, hurled profanities at officers and approached them, according to police.
Day refused to back up and resisted cops while he was being detained for disorderly conduct, according to police.
According to the statement, police and public safety aides attempted to put up a perimeter to divide the “aggressive and hostile crowd” that had gathered while police were conducting the arrests.
During the encounter, Jahtique Joseph John Lewis, 18, of Harrisburg, allegedly shoved a public safety aide in the chest, screamed profanities, and attempted to strike a public safety aide with a police bicycle, according to police.
Officers took John Lewis’ bike, but he attempted to attack the aide again, according to authorities. Police also said he refused arrest as authorities attempted to take him into custody.
Khalil Dwayne Warren, 19, of Harrisburg, was also detained when officers saw him standing on private property near two “no trespassing” signs, according to police. Warren was ordered to leave the premises, but he got unruly and resisted arrest as officers attempted to apprehend him, according to police.
According to authorities, the four Harrisburg males apprehended were freed after being charged with several offenses.
Disorderly conduct, resist/interfere with arrest, assault second degree, and refusal to give proof of identification were all charges against Anderson.
Disorderly conduct, obstructing and hindering, refusing to follow a reasonable and legal order, resist/interfere with arrest, and assault second-degree were all charges against Day.
Disorderly conduct, failing to follow a reasonable and legal order, obstructing and hindering, assault second degree, and resist/interfere with an arrest were all charges against John Lewis.
Warren was charged with trespassing on posted property as well as resisting arrest
