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Looks like the Jersey Shore cops went completely overboard with their off-board beach patrol this week… and put an unsuspecting surfer in a chokehold because he didn’t have the proper paperwork.
Californian surfer Liam MahoneyJohn F. Kennedy’s visit to Belmar Beach on Tuesday was anything but relaxed: A new video making the rounds on the Internet shows him in a heated argument with the police because he was not wearing a beach access pass on his wetsuit.
Liam and a woman in his group tried to explain to the officers that he did indeed have the ID required to access the beach – it was nearby on his backpack – but the situation quickly escalated.
Liam was grabbed by police officers and put in a headlock by a much larger beach police officer – two of whom threw him to the sand as he tried to leave the beach.
Watch the videos… several bystanders try to intervene and help the surfer, with some of them loudly accusing all five officers of frightening bystander children with their aggressive behavior.
Austin Downs on Storyful
Liam – who is quite thin – was led away by the police in handcuffs.
Police Chief of Belmar Tina Scott has since spoken out about the harrowing ordeal… and confirmed that Liam was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice. He was also fined for allegedly not carrying the $12 beach badge.
Chief Scott said the circumstances of the arrest would be thoroughly investigated.
A shame all along the line.
