AG Frosh 'Concerned' Over Incident Involving Officer Using Taser on Unarmed Teenager

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said that he is "concerned" over the recent incident involving an unarmed teen being tased by police in Ocean City, Md.

In a tweet responding to a video of the incident, Frosh wrote, "Based upon this video and another I have seen, I am deeply concerned about this incident. I have shared that concern with the appropriate law enforcement agencies."

Frosh was replying to a tweet from Sherrilyn Ifill, the president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, who asked him to investigate the incident.

In the video that Frosh referred to, officers with the Ocean City Police Department can be seen surrounding an individual in the area of 12th Street and the Boardwalk.

The teen was seen standing with his hands up when he was tasered by police, the teen fell to the ground and was eventually arrested.

According to a press release from the Town of Ocean City, the incident shown in the video occurred on Saturday when police "observed a large group vaping on the Boardwalk," and officers told the group that smoking or vaping is prohibited on the Boardwalk.

The press release said the group eventually walked away from the officers but began vaping once again.

"Officers approached the group again to further address the violation. During the course of the interaction, the male refused to provide his proof of identification and became disorderly," the press release said.

Police identified the teen as Brian Everett Anderson, 19, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"Officers attempted to place Anderson under arrest for failure to provide necessary identification for the violation of the local ordinance. Anderson began to resist arrest," the press release said.

According to the release, Anderson was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting/interfering with arrest, second-degree assault and failure to provide proof of identity. Three others were also arrested during the incident: 19-year-old Kamere Anthony Day; 18-year-old Jahtique Joseph John Lewis; and 19-year-old Khalil Dwayne Warren.

"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," the press release said. "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."

In addition to the tweet by Frosh, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot also issued a statement in regard to the viral video.

"The incident involving the Ocean City Police Dep. over the weekend is deeply disturbing. We must have zero tolerance for police misconduct. I strongly urge the Att. General to begin an immediate investigation. There must be swift and strong consequences for any and all misconduct," Franchot wrote in a tweet.

Newsweek reached out to Frosh for further comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.