OCEAN CITY — A local man was arrested on first-degree assault and other charges last weekend after allegedly threatening to kill a two-time Ocean City Council candidate as well as police officers.
Around 5:45 p.m. last Saturday, an OCPD officer was dispatched to a residence on Gulf Stream Drive for a reported potential psychiatric issue. The officer was advised before arrival on the scene a suspect later identified as George Campbell, 57, of Ocean City was threatening former Ocean City Council candidate Joseph Cryer and that Campbell was acting irrationally and was in possession of a blunt object.
As the officer arrived, Campbell was exiting the residence. The officer identified himself and observed Campbell with his right hand in his pants pocket. When Campbell did not remove his hand from his pocket as instructed, the officer drew his Taser and pointed it at the suspect. The officer kept the Taser trained on Campbell as the suspect started walking down the steps towards him. Campbell refused orders to sit down on the driveway and continued walking toward the officer, who kept the Taser ready.
Back-up officers arrived on the scene and attempted to pull Campbell away from the initial officer, but Campbell resisted and fought with the arresting officers. After a struggle, Campbell was brought under control with a violent prisoner restraining device. Campbell continued to resist and shouted at officers remarks such as, “I’m going to hunt you and your family down and kill you,” and “if you take me to jail [expletive deleted], I’m going to track you down and kill you,” according to police reports.
The initial officer went inside the residence to speak with Cryer, who told police Campbell had arrived earlier in the evening apparently intoxicated and became aggressive and started pushing him around and threatening him.
Cryer told police he was able to take control of Campbell and pull him to the ground. After it appeared Campbell had calmed down, Cryer let him back up, at which time he allegedly went to a kitchen drawer and picked up a hammer. Cryer told police Campbell started hitting the hammer on the counter and threatened Cryer, allegedly stating “If the police don’t lock me up, I’m going to kill you.” Cryer was able to knock the hammer from Campbell’s hand, at which point the police arrived. Campbell has been charged with first- and second-degree assault, malicious destruction and resisting arrest.