An Atlantic City man was tasered after he refused to comply with an officer's commands and became aggressive Friday morning, police said.
The suspect was then found to have heroin and drug paraphernalia, Sgt. Kevin Fair said.
Officer Nicholas Berardis was conducting a drug investigation around Renaissance Plaza, where police have received several complaints from residents and merchants.
When tried to stop three men in the area of New York and Arctic avenues at about 10:30 a.m., one of the men started yelling and became aggressive toward the officer, according to the report.
James B. Smith, 51, refused to show his hands and began to come toward Berardis in an aggressive manner, Fair said. Berardis told Smith he was under arrest, but Smith refused to be handcuffed and swung his arms at Berardis, who then used his conducted energy device, more commonly known as a taser.
Smith immediately fell to the ground and was taken into custody without further incident, Fair said.
As a precaution, Smith was first taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's City Campus to be checked out, then charged and released on a summons.
Anyone with information about this incident or drug activity is asked to call police at 609-347-5858 or anonymously text tip411 (847411) beginning the text with ACPD.
