Body camera footage from August 20th, 2024 shows an encounter between a police officer and a surfer on a New Jersey beach. The confrontation begins when the officer approaches the surfer about a beach badge requirement. I'm not going to ask you to do that anymore times. Thanks. You're not free to You're not free to leave. Am I being detained? You are. And if you take another step, you will be arrested. I promise you. I promise you. Is it surfing? Yeah. Just come here. You want to You can talk to Harry Horton about this. Talk to whoever you want about it. Talk to me right now. I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm doing nothing wrong. Okay. What about your beach badge though? So, we need your information. >> Cuz I'm not on the beach. You're allowed to access the water to surf or to fish. You are? Yes. >> Yeah. And you don't need a beach badge for that? You need a beach badge to get on this beach. Not if you're in the water. >> is a free This is a free beach. I'm not going to argue with you. You're going to provide your name and cooperation? No. I'll play I'll play after this transaction is done. I'll email you the free access law. And I'll also email you title 40, which regulates the municipalities to charge for the beach. Okay. Great. But for the time being, we need your information. I'm giving you my name now. Okay. 726-52. You're not free to go. All right. The surfer has refused to provide identification, citing his belief that the beach access is free under state law. The officer, however, maintains that a beach badge is required and that the surfer is not free to leave. With the situation at a standstill, the encounter is about to escalate significantly. I'm going to have one of your arrest paperwork. Officers now move to physically arrest the surfer, who is holding his surfboard. What follows is a prolonged struggle as multiple officers attempt to take the man into custody. Drop the surfboard. Drop the surfboard. Drop the surfboard. Drop the surfboard. You're You're illegally arresting me. >> You're illegally arresting me. >> man. Whoa! Whoa! WHOA! WHOA! HEY! HEY! THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER CHARGE. PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK. PUT YOUR HANDS STOP! Don't [ __ ] touch me. >> No way, dude. >> Put your hands behind your back. No, sir. Put your hands behind your back. >> What did I do wrong? What did I do wrong? >> What did I do wrong? This is ridiculous. Put your hands behind your back. Bro. Put your hands behind your back. >> What did I do wrong, bro? That's my [ __ ] badge. I walked up to the shower, dude. BRO. STOP. STOP. HEY, BACK. Get the [ __ ] out of my face, dude. >> hands behind your back. No. Why are you GUYS ARRESTING HIM? THIS badge is right here. Talk to Harry Horton about I will call Harry Horton. What the [ __ ] is that? >> Horton, please. I will call Harry Horton, man. Dude, I didn't Dude, I have my badge right there. >> is right here. >> on the boardwalk. Still resisting. Why did he have to do this to him? He's not >> Please let go of me, you're You're [ __ ] What are you >> You are literally Bro, you are not allowed to do this. You're not allowed to do this. Will you [ __ ] STOP? OKAY. STOP [ __ ] TOUCHING GET HIM BACK. STOP! NO [ __ ] WAY. AH! STOP! PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK. PUT THEM BEHIND YOUR BACK. STOP RESISTING. PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND your back. No! WHAT THE [ __ ] WHAT THE [ __ ] IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS? GET HIM ON THE RADIO. HEY, CALL Harry Horton, please. I have A [ __ ] BADGE. >> WHY WOULD YOU [ __ ] JOKE at him? CUZ HE DOESN'T HAVE A BADGE. IT'S RIGHT HERE. PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND your back. No, I have a badge. I'm not letting you arrest me, bro. HEY, STOP! GET OFF OF HIM. AH! [ __ ] [ __ ] NO, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. HE LEFT HIS THIS GUY'S A [ __ ] BOARDWALK COP. GET OFF OF HIM. THE SURFER is now in handcuffs. Throughout the arrest, he repeatedly claimed to have a beach badge and insisted the arrest was unlawful. Bystanders can also be heard reacting to the scene. The man now pleads with officers about the tightness of his restraints. >> a [ __ ] beach badge. You [ __ ] freaking all of us out. We all [ __ ] live here, dude. Bro, can you please stop? You got these things so tight on me, man. You're hurting him. Can you please [ __ ] loosen it just a hair, dude? Come on. You're being ridiculous. Put it on the walkway. I was walking to the [ __ ] shower. RIGHT. I ALREADY KNOW WHERE THE POLICE I KNOW WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS. Can you please [ __ ] get off me, dude? Why are you guys He's got to take the [ __ ] badge. Yo, can you loosen it a little bit, bro? You're cutting my wrist. We're getting that off. Walking straight off. Sir, can you clear that? Clear Katie. Clear that. >> Sir, can you please loosen it a little bit? >> Clear the stairs. Sir, can you please >> Clear the stairs. You're an idiot. Oh my god. Can you please give me Dude, my hands are [ __ ] cutting off the circulation. Show photo of that for your photo ID for five minutes. I was going to the shower. I had a beach badge. You're being ridiculous. Bro. Are you [ __ ] serious? Yeah, you're under arrest for obstruction. Okay. You're not free to use your beach badge. I just got here. So, control yourself, all right? The guy in the Dude, can you Can one of you please loosen the belt on my right wrist? I have everything >> No, sir. I do not. >> nothing on you at all? >> I have nothing. I have a bar of wax in my wetsuit. >> Face palm. Can you Can you please Please stop. Spread your legs. Can you please [ __ ] loosen it a little bit, sir? What's that? It's a bar of wax. I just told you. Hey, have a seat. Can you please sir, I'm beg I'm begging you at this point. >> Have a seat. There you go. All right. Yeah, just get him in. I'm going to go. The surfer is placed into a patrol vehicle. This incident drew significant public attention and raised questions about beach access laws, municipal enforcement authority, and the use of force during the arrest. The footage ends as the officer resumes patrol. The surfer in this video is 29-year-old Liam Mahoney from California. Following this arrest, Mahoney took a plea deal as part of a diversion program. Under the agreement, three serious charges, disorderly conduct, obstruction, and resisting arrest will be dismissed if he complies with 1 year of probation. The incident sparked widespread debate about beach access rights in New Jersey, where state law guarantees public access to tidal waters and wet sand areas. Many questioned whether the officer's demand for a beach badge was legally justified and whether the level of force used during the arrest was proportionate to the situation. If you enjoyed this breakdown, be sure to check out the next video on screen. Like, subscribe, and stay tuned for more.