Man punched in the face by OCPD after a vaping incident

OCEAN CITY, Md., – After an altercation between an Ocean City boardwalk visitor and police some are raising concerns.

The Lexington Park man was informed by police that he could not vape there and fines associated with doing so before being punched in the face by an officer. But police say he resisted arrest, it’s a confrontation causing concern.

A video is circulating that shows 34-year-old Denzel Ruff getting punched by an Ocean City Police Department officer just after midnight on July 6th. Ruff was arrested and the police department says:

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.

However, the Caucus Of African American Leader Of Eastern Shore says they are appalled. Carl Snowden with the caucus says the police used excessive force. Now they are taking legal action with the Maryland Attorney General. “Anthony Brown, asking his office to just review the circumstances and make a determination whether or not this man’s civil rights were violated,” Carl Snowden with the Caucus of African American Leaders said.

A similar incident happened on the boardwalk in 2021. The caucus says they were able to help get some of the charges dropped for the teens involved. Snowden says Ocean City Police should take a different approach by proposing educational classes for vaping measures.

Ruff was released on his own recognizance and is currently looking for legal counsel. Ocean City Police Department says all of their uses of force go through a detailed review process.