Toms River police chief responds to social media video of police altercation with resident
Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little released body camera footage of the incident to Instagram in response to Jamaal Holmes.
More Stories
A video on social media shows an altercation between Toms River police and a man they say baited them into a confrontation.
In an Instagram post, Jamaal Holmes says he called 911 multiple times for help with a custody exchange. After receiving no response, he flagged down police officers sitting at the top of his street. When he began walking back to his home, he says police attacked him for no reason.
Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little released body camera footage of the incident to Instagram in response to Holmes.
Little states that the social media video being circulated by Holmes does not show that he hit one of the officers as they made attempts to deescalate.
The officers were within their legal rights and Holmes has “an extensive history of violence,” according to Little.
RELATED: Police: Black Lives Matter protester punched man on Seaside Heights boardwalk
Holmes commented on the post saying in part, “Here we go with lies” and that his lawyers will be filing a tort claim. He also told News 12 that he and his lawyers will hold a press conference next week.
Holmes was charged with assault back in 2020 for hitting a man on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk. It was during a Black Lives Matter protest.
Police say Holmes had gotten into an argument with another man before hitting him. Holmes alleged the man was grabbing his mask and has maintained he acted in self-defense.
