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Asbury Park police have issued a statement regarding the arrest of Asbury Park resident Randy Thompson, 46, during a protest march on Wednesday concerning the fatal shooting by city police in August of Hasani Best. The full statement is printed further below.

Thompson [above] has been among the most vocal critics of police actions in the Best death, which he calls a murder. Best was killed after police were called on a domestic violence complaint, and a standoff occurred with Best wielding a knife.

Thompson said he was targeted by police when they arrested him Wednesday night. The charges involve Thompson’s alleged failure to comply with a directive not to march in the middle of the street and then resisting arrest.

“I was targeted and attacked by the Asbury Park Police Department for daring to march peacefully against acts of violence by the Asbury Park Police and their enablers and for unjustifiably murdering Hasani Best,” Thompson said in a Facebook post today.

But Asbury Park Police Chief David Kelso said his officers acted lawfully and it was Thompson who violated the law.

“After reviewing the information available, I support my officers in the arrest of Randy Thompson,” said Kelso in the department’s statement issued Thursday. “Furthermore, the Asbury Park Police Department supports everyone’s right to peacefully protest.  However, peaceful protest does not include the right to violate the law.  Unfortunately, several requests to comply with the law were ignored which resulted in this arrest.  We ask that anyone planning a protest, march or event of any kind, to please coordinate your efforts with the City and the police department to ensure everyone’s safety. This is to make sure everyone is aware of and abides by the law as well as local ordinances.”

The department’s statement below also provided a narrative of their version of the events leading up to the arrest, as well as outlining the circumstances of the alleged resisting of arrest by Thompson.

Thompson, an organizer of the march, was in the front of the group as protesters walked down the middle of a street at the beginning of the event. After an Asbury Park police officer repeatedly told Thompson and the crowd to move to the sidewalk, Thompson continued on and walked into a policeman, making contact with the officer and leading to his arrest, according to the police statement.

Thompson was advised he was under arrest, and body cam footage released by the police showed a struggle ensue between Thompson and officers who attempted to arrest him. He was charged with Obstructing Highways/Public Passages, Obstructing the Administration of Law, Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest, according to the police statement.

In his Facebook post today, Thompson said “Police have murdered three people in five years, they have attacked black teenagers, journalists and now an activist who dared to speak out. Will your child be next? Your neighbor? Your Partner? Will there be anyone left to stand up for you if you are the one attacked next? Will you stand with us to condemn this latest example of audacious police violence? Will you stand up for justice? Will you stand with other Civil Rights Leaders and condemn this latest act of Police Violence on Civilians and all the others?”

A state grand jury will be reviewing the actions of the officers involved in the Hasani Best shooting, as required by state law.

The following is the full statement issued by the Asbury Park Police Department regarding Thompson’s arrest:

On the evening of Wednesday, October 14, 2020, a protest and march was planned to occur at 5:00 pm in the city of Asbury Park.  The event, advertised as a memorial for the death of Hasani Best, was to start in front of the residence located at 914 Fourth Avenue and end at the Asbury Park Police Headquarters located at 1 Municipal Plaza.  Attempts were made by the Asbury Park Police Department to contact a promoter of the event.  One attempt was a call to the phone number provided on the event’s social media flyer.  This resulted in the police department speaking to a legal assistant at the law offices of Rubenstein & Rynecki of Brooklyn, New York.  They could only confirm the details on the flyer. Another attempt to obtain event details was an inquiry to a local community activist.  This resulted in no call back.      

At approximately 6:30 pm, a group of approximately 30 people gathered in front of 914 Fourth Avenue.  After a few brief words, the group proceeded out onto the roadway and marched east in the 900 block of Fourth Avenue.  The group completely blocked the east bound lane of travel to vehicular traffic.  Observing this, Sergeant Michael Casey positioned his vehicle in the same block, just east of the group.  Upon exiting his vehicle, Sergeant Casey attempted to communicate to the group both verbally and signaling with his hands.  This was an attempt to have the group exit the roadway and continue walking safely on the on the sidewalk.  Despite numerous attempts the group disregarded the officer’s requests and continued walking east.  Upon the group reaching the officer’s location, one of the members of the group, identified as Randy Thompson (46 years of age, of Asbury Park) continued walking into and coming in contact with Sergeant Casey.  As Thompson attempted to proceed past Sergeant Casey, he was advised that he was under arrest.  Despite being advised of his arrest, Thompson proceeded to physically resist being taken into custody.  He was eventually secured and transported to police headquarters.

Randy Thompson was processed at the Asbury Park Police Headquarters and charged with Obstructing Highways/Public Passages, Obstructing the Administration of Law, Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. He was released on the summonses.

Chief David Kelso provided the following comments: “After reviewing the information available, I support my officers in the arrest of Randy Thompson.  Furthermore, the Asbury Park Police Department supports everyone’s right to peacefully protest.  However, peaceful protest does not include the right to violate the law.  Unfortunately, several requests to comply with the law were ignored which resulted in this arrest.  We ask that anyone planning a protest, march or event of any kind, to please coordinate your efforts with the City and the police department to ensure everyone’s safety. This is to make sure everyone is aware of and abides by the law as well as local ordinances.”

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