Couple disturbing things here. Why were the cops on that beach in the first place? It was quiet. The person who took the video had been asleep. People were quietly sunning on the beach. Any drinking that took place was not creating a public disturbance.
This was not the time for the long arm of the law to flex it’s muscle. Imho
Drinking always takes place at holiday events. It’s not a problem unless it becomes a loud party. Police normally use discretion. I’ve been at a lot of weekend events throughout my life. Lots of tailgating with coolers of beer and good food. The cops leave you alone UNLESS you are obviously seriously intoxicated.
They ruined the holiday for a lot of people needlessly. The kids crying is really disturbing.
It seems the cops got pissed when she asked them if they had anything better to do. She’d passed the breathalyzer test and her words gave them, they thought, the excuse to take things farther. How dare she be impertinent? they probably thought.
Well, despite the minor point that there are miniscule differences between encountering an armed man who apparently is shooting at you and beating up on a teenager in a swimsuit on a beach, yes, they are the same thing…
A commenter said an eyewitness reports that the woman kicked one of the cops in the nads while resisting arrest. However, that should be taken with a giant grain of salt – some NJ.com commenters tend to be of the 4chan/SJW sux ilk.
It seems to me that cops in that situation should be just patrolling the beach and making sure everyone is okay and not having any problems. Is it that hard to let people have a good time on a beach on a holiday?
She was underage and in possession of alcohol. Alcohol is prohibited on the beach. One is breaking a state law the other is a township ordinance. The ordinance is posted at the entrances to the beach. The cops were on the beach to enforce the laws and township ordinances which she was breaking. “Public disturbance” is not an element of of either the law or the ordinance.
As usual, some incomplete video is posted and everyone is an expert. The PD says they will release body cam video that supports the officers actions. Why not wait before passing judgement?
To further explain to the OP why cops were on the beach, 2 years ago the beach there was totally trashed over Memorial Day weekend. The clean up cost the town a lot and also involved a lot of underage drinking. This is one of the few beaches in New Jersey that are free to use so the cost of clean up isn’t paid directly by the tourists. Increased patrols were demanded by the residents.
Just saw additional footage on the news. The cops may have been attempting to detain her for a possible parole violation when she resisted/assaulted the cops.