Video Of Ocean Twp. PD Pointing Guns At Black Man Sparks Outrage

OAKHURST, NJ — A witness's video shows Ocean Township police pointing their guns at a Black man outside of 7-Eleven. Daquan Beerman puts his hands up and then gets on his stomach as police occupy the parking lot and surrounding area.

Local resident Ashley Stovall uploaded an eight-minute video of the altercation. (Warning: vulgar language).

"He has no gun on him," Stovall shouts in the video. "He is unarmed."

After the video spread on social media, Police Chief Steven R. Peters said his officer's actions were necessary. Police were called about a reported confrontation involving a knife between two people in the store, Peters said.

"The responding officers were confronted with a chaotic and potential volatile situation that required them to take immediate action," he said. "Their actions were necessary to ensure that none of the people involved or the public were injured."

Ocean Township residents have organized a protest for Friday in front of the police station, claiming the police department "seems to unfairly target and exhibit excessive force on Black and Indigenous People of Color in the community."

Police Arrive

Police responded to the 7-Eleven on West Park Avenue at about 12:15 p.m. Sunday, hearing a report of an altercation involving two men, possibly involving a knife.

Beerman asked an onlooker to call 911 to help him and his friend after he said a 7-Eleven employee brandished a box cutter knife and threatened them, he told the Asbury Park Press.

Police arrived and found Beerman outside. He matched the description of one of the people allegedly involved in the altercation inside the store, according to Det. Lt. Greg Tongring.

Tongring says Beerman was holding a piece of firewood in his hand.

"After negotiations with police, he dropped the piece of wood and was detained by officers," Tongring said in a press release. They claim Beerman threatened to kill two employees during the altercation, which stemmed from them asking Beerman to wear a mask and not eat food inside the store.

An employee, Gary Shahin, brandished a box cutter, police said. He was charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Beerman was charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, unlawful possession of a weapon and terroristic threats. He intends to fight those charges, he told the Asbury Park Press.

The video begins with Beerman standing with his hands up in the parking lot.

"Am I being suspected of committing a crime?" Beerman asks police in the video as some point their weapons toward him.

An officer walks over to witnesses and explains police were trying to figure out who had a knife.

"We got more than one description of more than one person that said someone had a knife," she said in the video. Stovall asks for a description of the person. The officer says something inaudible as she walks away.

Reaction to the Incident

The video has sparked outrage on social media, prompting organizers to plan a protest in Ocean Township against "unnecessary abuse of police power." The protest will take place at police headquarters (399 Monmouth Rd.) from 12-3 p.m. Friday. Organizers insist that attendees wear masks and follow social distancing protocols.

"The live video showed in real time the overreaction of the local police force to thousands of people and brought up a number of familiar narratives by Ocean Township residents of similar altercations with the local police department," the press release for the protest said.

Peters says that the video gives an incomplete picture of the incident.

"A complete picture emerges after a review of the initial 911 calls to police, the physical evidence at the scene, the interviews of witnesses and the two people involved," he said. "The officers in this incident prevented the situation from escalating and safely resolved the case."

Full Statement from Peters

Peters released the following statement Monday:

"I have reviewed a video that was posted on social media showing part of an incident that took place on Sunday June 28 at a convenience store located on West Park Ave in Ocean Township. Clearly, the video posted on social media is a very short piece of the entire picture.

"The incident was initially reported as a confrontation involving a knife between two people inside the store.

"The responding officers were confronted with a chaotic and potential volatile situation that required them to take immediate action. Their actions were necessary to ensure that none of the people involved or the public were injured.

"The officers detained both persons involved, secured the area and subsequently conducted an investigation to determine all the facts.A complete picture emerges after a review of the initial 911 calls to police, the physical evidence at the scene, the interviews of witnesses and the two people involved.

"The officers in this incident prevented the situation from escalating and safely resolved the case.

"The Ocean Township Police Department cares about this community and works tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of people that we serve."

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