OCEAN CITY, Md. - There are calls for an investigation after a video went viral of an Ocean City police arrest over the weekend.
Some are calling on the state Attorney General to get involved after that video went viral.
Ocean City police are standing by their officers.
The concern raised by the video is whether appropriate force was used by police over the vaping incident. Police say they were doing their job based on training.
Witness video captured the incident Saturday night on the boardwalk near 12th street.
Ocean city Police say after they told a group of men vaping was prohibited on the boardwalk, one of the men continued to vape. Police say Brian Anderson would not show his identification, and that is when police tried to arrest him. They say he resisted arrest, and while he was on the ground, one of he officers hit Anderson with his knee.
Police say another man, Kamere Day, yelled obscenities at them, and as he approached them, they placed a police bike in front of him. As he continued toward them, police tried to arrest him, and they say he resisted.
Another man appeared to be tased as he encountered an officer.
In all, four men were arrested. They are all from Pennsylvania.
Maryland AG Brian Frosh said on Twitter he is deeply concerned by the incident and has shared his concerns with appropriate law enforcement agencies.
There are signs on the boardwalk to remind people that vaping is prohibited.
Ocean City Police said they would not comment on camera but released a statement. It said the officers are permitted to use force per training, to overcome resistance, and there is an internal review of the incident.
OCPD does not have body cameras, and there is a town surveillance camera near the incident, but a police spokesperson said it will be used in the legal case against the four arrested, and would not be available before then.
State and local leaders are responding to the arrests. Maryland State Senator Mary Beth Carozza responded, saying, "The individuals were informed of the smoking and vaping prohibition on the boardwalk, and their follow up violent actions led to their arrest."
Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan posted his response on Facebook, saying, "We respect the concerns of all citizens and State Elected Officials who have commented on the videos. We pledge, on our part, to work together and thoroughly investigate the incidents in question."