(WBAL) A Maryland couple is asking for a formal apology after a confrontation with a Berlin police officer.
Ronshell Shockley says Lt. Jeffrey Lawson threatened to take her into custody over sitting on a picnic table.
The incident happened in June at Henry Park in Berlin as Shockley, a local business owner, and her husband, Ernest Shockley, a local football assistant coach, watched their 13-year-old son play in a youth basketball game. They said the officer's approach and tone concerned them.
"Lt. Jeffrey Lawson walks up, pointing at me in my face," Ronshell Shockley said.
"When he got within arm's reach of my wife, he put his finger in her face and said, 'Sit down on that bench,'" Ernest Shockley said.
Ronshell Shockley said she complied but also questioned the officer about what law she broke. Rules posted at the park entrance do not mention anything about sitting on picnic tables.
"The next thing out of his mouth was, 'Leave the park or I will arrest you.' I'm like, 'You're going to arrest us? Arrest us for what?'" Ernest Shockley said.
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