Videos are surfacing online of a police officer clearly punching a suspect while police held him down following a physical encounter with the Maryland man who was vaping on the Boardwalk.
The incident reportedly occurred on July 6 when an Ocean City police officer and two public safety aides were on foot patrol on the Boardwalk were asked by Denzel Elam Ruff, 34, of Lexington Park, Md., about the city’s smoking policy. Police advised Ruff of the city law and possible fines for smoking violators. The statement of probable cause document filed in the District Court of Maryland says, “Ruff stated, ‘Who’s going to pay that? Not me.’ Ruff continued to walk southbound on the Boardwalk towards Dorchester Street, where he looked back at us and intentionally smoked his vape, raising his hands in the air at us.”
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Once officers approached Ruff the report states that he was resisting the arrest and that’s when things got out of hand. Ruff’s parents spoke out about the tragic incident and said the officers targeted him because they were trying to enforce a ban against vaping on the boardwalk. “Seeing him on the ground, seeing the policeman punching him – he’s on the ground, they’re holding him down. He’s not moving. He’s not a threat. So why was that necessary?” His mother, Patricia Elam-Walker said, “It just infuriated me and saddened me, and it just made me feel like this cannot keep happening.”
According to his Linkedin profile page, Ruff is the head golf coach at Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City and a professional caddie at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda.
Ocean City Police Deputy Communications Manager Ashley Miller issued a statement this week saying, “Our officers are permitted to use force, per their training, to overcome exhibited resistance. All uses of force go through a detailed review process. In this instance, the use of force will go through a multi-level examination by the Assistant Patrol Commander, the Division Commander, and then by the Office of Professional Standards.”
Following the incident, Ruff was charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and refusal to provide identification.
In June 2021, viral videos were shared showing Ocean City police officers arresting multiple suspects after they allegedly failed to comply with orders to stop vaping on the Boardwalk in violation of the town’s smoking ordinance. In one instance caught on a cell phone video, one of the suspects is seen being kneed repeatedly by an officer. In another instance, a suspect is seen being tased by a police officer.
When he was ordered to stop vaping, he should have. He knows what time it is. If the law says no vaping or smoking on the boardwalk than it’s no smoking. My question is; IS IT POSTED WITH THE CODE?