OC police: Man hit with Taser was 'belligerent' and 'trying to start fight'

A Pennsylvania man disputed the events Friday that led to Ocean City Police using a taser gun on him after his wife was reportedly struck by a Boardwalk tram.

Ocean City Police and Maryland State Police troopers responded to the area of the Inlet fishing pier at 401 S. Atlantic Ave. following a report of a pedestrian accident involving one of the Boardwalk trams — trolley-like passenger transport vehicles — at about 7 p.m. Thursday, according to charging documents filed in Maryland District Court.

Witnesses directed the responding officers toward Christopher Campbell, 29, of Blossburg, Pennsylvania, claiming that he was acting "all belligerent," according to charging documents.

Charging records state Campbell was charged with disturbing the peace/hindering passage, resisting/interfering with arrest and possession of a spring-assisted knife.

An Ocean City police officer arriving at the scene saw a woman later identified as Campbell's wife, Lydia Campbell, sitting on the ground nearby and apparently a victim of a collision with the Boardwalk tram, according to charging documents.

The document states Christopher Campbell was "loudly shouting and cursing at the passersby and tram passengers," and was "trying to start a fight with one of the tram caboose observers."

But Lydia Campbell said in a Friday interview that her husband wasn't yelling at passersby or passengers at all, and was just trying to get her prompt medical attention, which the officers were failing to provide.

"They didn’t do anything, just telling him to calm down," she said. "At this point more officers arrived at the scene, threatening my husband and telling him to shut up or they’d put him in jail."

The officer positioned himself between an observer and Campbell, asking the latter to calm down while they investigated the incident, according to charging documents.

Christopher Campbell repeatedly raised his voice, shouting obscenities at the tram driver, according to police, as his wife tried to caution him to silence, but Campbell continued, according to charging documents.

The husband was repeatedly using profanity, according to charging documents.

Christopher Campbell was again advised by police to stop shouting while police investigated, according to charging documents.

On Friday, Christopher Campbell disputed yelling what police claimed.

The officer said in the report that he "detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from (Campbell's) breath and person. His speech was also slurred."

However, on Friday, Christopher Campbell said the police's allegations were without merit.

"I’m actually an alcoholic in recovery and haven't drank in a year," said Campbell, who added he also assists in an alcohol and substance counseling center in his hometown.

On Friday, Lindsay Richard, Ocean City Police Department spokeswoman, said her department stood by the narrative provided by their officer.

“That’s the bottom line that our officers saw exactly what was reported in their statements," she said.

It was shortly after Campbell continued shouting that the officer went to place him under arrest, according to police.

Campbell fought back, according to charging documents, and was told to get on the ground by the Ocean City police officer who was joined by the Maryland State Police trooper, who together attempted to handcuff Campbell, who continued to resist, at which point Campbell was told that he would be tasered two to three times.

Following that, Campbell was tasered in the lower abdomen, according to police.

Campbell continued to struggle with the trooper and the officer, and the officer punched Campbell in the chin or cheek area with a closed right fist, according to the charging documents.

Campbell managed to get to his feet, grappling with the trooper and the officer, at which point Campbell was tasered again and finally handcuffed, according to charging documents.

Campbell was searched and it was discovered that an "assisted opening knife," which is also known as a "spring assist knife," according to charging documents.

It was found in his possession in violation of Ocean City ordinance, according to charging documents.