Posted on 07/29/2008 9:36:14 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Ha! While the cop may have been in the wrong, the bicyclist was acting illegally, which mitigates things. A few more arrests like that, and Critical Mass may start to rethink their actions. Bicycles belong on bike paths or sidewalks, not the road.
Show me a motorist who obeys ALL traffic laws and I’ll like ‘em.
Bad cop
Good hit!Excellent technique, feet square,lowered stance. exploded into asshole. Perfect form tackle was shown here.
I loved it!
He has no place in the force.
Period.
That’s one of the most idiotic things I’ve ever seen on FR. Thanks for pushing the envelope.
The officer may have known the fellow from some other encounter or a previous relationship. It looks very like he spotted someone he wanted had to hit and he hit him. If he cannot put that sort of thing away while on duty then he does not have the minimum of professionalism to be an officer of the law.
And any defense attorney knows this. So, if t'were me...the very first thing I'd do as a defense attorney would be to find some basis to file a motion to suppress the video.
Nothing previous was claimed by the officer or anyone else. The officers who were involved with Mr. King and some witnesses had a lot to say about what went before the famous video scene. I think if we find out anything it will be a grudge left over from another incident or some previous personal interaction.
Officer Pogan saw Long commit a crime and moved to intercept him. Long tried to go around the officer and thus resisted arrest. That’s my interpretation anyway.
If you try to outrun or out maneuver the cops after committing some infraction, there’s a good chance you’re going to get your a** beaten. But dumb criminals always seem to insist on a firsthand demonstration.
I don’t even think the hit was particularly vicious, just enough to get the job done. I see dozens of better hits every Sunday during football season.
The cop should work in a deli and yell at the customers. No badge for you!
Finally, a voice of reason here.
It IS obvious that the cop was locked on to this particular rider. You can tell by his gaze and actions that he was going for this specific individual. The ass-hat biker had to have done something to get both the cop’s and his partner’s attention.
I’ll wait to hear the whole story.
Officer Pogan saw Long commit a crime and moved to intercept him...
Uh, not according to Officer Pogan.
I’ll wait to hear the whole story
Or you could read the article and get the whole story right now.
Cops shouldn’t have to place themselves at risk controlling a mob like Critical Mass: a good reason to issue machine guns to the PDs.
Nothing Pogan said in his complaint is inconsistent with it.
I don't even care if they obey all the laws, so long as they don't impede traffic or endanger anyone. I used to bicycle to work before my employer moved 15 miles away from me. Despite peoples claims to the contrary, riding a bicycle is very different from operating a motor vehicle. Most areas allow you to ride on the sidewalk for instance, not to mention the fact that you have no license plate, signals and can't keep up with traffic most of the time.
As a motorist, I hate bicyclists that think they are cars and as a bicyclist I used to think those people were insane. I mean, why would someone insist on riding 14 mph in traffic on a 40 mph road when there's an unused sidewalk six feet away? If you can't keep up with traffic and there's a safe alternate route you need to get off the road. Now if that same person looks both ways and then blows a stop sign at 7 mph, I could care less. He's going slow enough that no one is in danger and being on a bicycle it takes effort to get going again from a complete stop.
To me, it looked like he just decided that he didn't like these bicyclists and picked one at random for a slamming.
Dumbass doesn't realize it's a YouTube world now.
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