Video: Cop bodychecks bicyclisg

The New York Post ^ | July 29, 2008 | Murray Weiss et al.

[heartwood]

A rookie cop - the son of a highly respected New York City detective - has been stripped of his badge and gun after being caught on video viciously attacking a bicyclist who was part of a Times Square demonstration. '

The startling YouTube video shows Officer Patrick Pogan, 22, apparently setting his sights on - and then tackling - a bicyclist as he pedaled along Seventh Avenue as part of last Friday's controversial Critical Mass ride.

Christopher Long, 29, was among a throng of riders as he whizzed toward the corner of West 46th Street at 9:30 p.m. and appeared to try and swerve away from the officer.

But the video shows Pogan pick up his pace as he stares down Long before shoving the cyclist, slamming him to the pavement.

To the dismay of stunned pedestrians, Long, who was not wearing a helmet, hurtles several feet through the air as he flips off the bicycle and lands on the curb.

[heartwood]

Pushing hot buttons here - Freepers' general contempt for bicyclists (especially activist ones) vs. the hatred for out-of-control law-unto-themselves cops.

Video at link.

[1rudeboy]

ahahaha—pwned

[therut]

I saw the video once on cable. Looks to me that the bicycle guy was fixing to run over the cop. Could be either I suppose but the video is not cut and dry.

[Mr. K]

We love GOOD cops, but hate the idiot ones- and really wish the good ones would not allow the bad ones to hide within their ‘code of silence’

[weegee]

a bicyclist as he pedaled along Seventh Avenue as part of last Friday's controversial Critical Mass ride.

Critical Mass is an anarchist movement that rides to shut down roadways to cars.

They run red lights and block the traffic by their own protest.

I've had their members pound my car as they drove by and refused to let me make a legal right turn on red (they were passing on my right hand side and I was in a turn only lane).

Screw them.

[Mr. K]

are you looking at the same video I saw?

the officer clearly attacked the cyclist.

The cyclists are not innocent themsleves if they close down traffic on purpose for their ‘group ride’... but he could have been killed by this idiot cop

[lesser_satan]

I’m no cop-sucker, but this guy deserves a medal. They can summarily execute the critical mass vermin for all I care.

[NativeNewYorker]

Very entertaining. Thanks for posting.

[Mr. K]

go ahead and make your turn- they are bound by the rules of the road- see if they enjoy slamming into the side of your car

[Slings and Arrows]

As you said re Critical Mass. Both the punk and the cop were wrong, and I won’t mourn for either of them.

[Filo]

We love GOOD cops, but hate the idiot ones- and really wish the good ones would not allow the bad ones to hide within their ‘code of silence’

Unfortunately once a cop allows the bad ones to hide within the "code of silence" he becomes a bad cop as well.

So, in the end, there really aren't any good ones. Just bad ones and really bad ones.

[JLS]

The video is pretty bad. The cop needs a new career as does his dad, given his comments.

[KarlInOhio]

Well, Pogan, being a law enforcement officer is beyond you. Maybe keeping kids from congregating near the Gap is more up to your skills and temperament.

[Just another Joe]

The policeman is in the wrong on this one.

While I don't condone the antics that "Critical Mass" uses, the policeman was clearly in the wrong.
Even if the cyclist called the policeman's mother a *****, the policeman was in the wrong.

[politicalwit]

hmmm....have you had your vision checked lately or do you walk the thin blue line?

[Deb]

Sometimes you just snap.

[Gamecock]

Cop bodychecks bicyclisg

At least it wasn’t a bicyclist!

[Knitebane]

We love GOOD cops, but hate the idiot ones- and really wish the good ones would not allow the bad ones to hide within their ‘code of silence’

Some of us are harsher than that.

ANY cop that lets a bad cop break the law and doesn't arrest him IS a bad cop.

A good cop is one that doesn't break the law and doesn't allow others to break the law. Including other cops.

But yes, by my definition, I love good cops.

[Alberta's Child]

I've got no sympathy for any of these cyclists. These "Critical Mass" rallies are an enormous pain in the @ss -- and involve large numbers of bicyclists who openly break the law and disrupt traffic.

Having said that, I should point out that the cop was a fool.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

What the video doesn't show is Pogan arresting Long for attempted assault in the third degree, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct - charges that kept the Bloomfield, NJ, man behind bars for 26 hours before his release late Saturday.

And how are these charges going to stick in court considering what precipitated the interaction between cyclist and Pogan?