Belmar Police Release Bodycam Video of Surfer Arrested at Jersey Shore Beach

BELMAR, N.J. (WABC) – Police have released new details and body camera footage of what they say led to the arrest of a surfer at a beach in Belmar, New Jersey.

Onlookers filmed an encounter on Tuesday in which officers allegedly pinned a surfer to the ground because of a beach badge.

Liam Mahoney, a 28-year-old Belmar native who now lives in California, was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice and a city ordinance requiring the wearing of a beach badge.

A video of the encounter sparked controversy, with some beachgoers calling the officers' behavior an overreaction to a trivial matter.

“Everyone knows he had a beach badge, but surfers aren't allowed to wear it on their wetsuits because it would destroy their expensive wetsuits,” said beachgoer Bart Yarnold.

However, Belmar Police Chief Tina Scott provided additional details Thursday about the moments leading up to Mahoney's arrest.

Scott says officials have received several complaints throughout the week about surfers illegally entering the beach over the dunes. She says gatekeepers have asked surfers to show their beach passes, but their requests have been ignored.

On Tuesday, officers stationed at the beach approached Mahoney and asked him for his badge. On a police body-worn camera, Mahoney can be seen saying, “I don't need one.”

When the officer asks Mahoney for his identification to issue him a citation, the video shows Mahoney refusing and walking away.

The officer then told Mahoney that he was not allowed to leave the room and that he would be arrested if he did not cooperate.

The officer continued to pursue Mahoney and ordered him to drop his surfboard several times before finally taking the surfboard away from Mahoney so he could be arrested.

While attempting to handcuff the 28-year-old, the officer pushes Mahoney to the ground and arrests him.

Police Chief Scott says Mahoney was not arrested because he was not carrying a beach tag, but because he hindered officers' investigation by refusing to provide his identification and personal information.

She says the arrest is currently under review.

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