Posted on 07/30/2008 1:28:56 PM PDT by BGHater
A video showing a New York City police officer knocking a bicyclist to the ground has become a YouTube hit and cost the officer his badge and gun.
An anonymous bystander posted the 70-second video over the weekend. In two days, it was viewed over 260,000 times. Viewers had rated it five stars and provided 647 reviews as of Tuesday.
The video shows bicycle riders in Critical Mass pedaling through the streets of Times Square on Friday. The footage shows the incident first in real-time, then in slow motion.
The officer stood in the street as some cyclists passed by, then walked briskly toward the sidewalk as another cyclist approached. The bicyclist attempted to swerve out of the officer's way but the officer slammed against him and pushed him to the ground. The person who shot the video appears to be about 30 feet away and, although the sound of the bicycle crashing was clear, the video did not pick up any verbal exchange between the officer and the bicyclist.
Critical Mass is a group that rides through city streets monthly. Some people claim they do so in protest of or to draw attention to unfriendly bicycling policies. The rides take place in cities around the world. New York City police frequently clash with members of the group, who often videotape their rides. Police claim that some members of the group are overly aggressive by deliberately slowing traffic and harassing drivers.
In the latest incident, the officer was placed on desk duty pending the outcome of an investigation by the Manhattan district attorney. Bystanders said the officer's behavior was unprovoked, but a police report said the cyclist provoked the officer.
The cyclist, Christopher Long, of Hoboken, N.J., was handcuffed, arrested, and charged with attempted assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct for allegedly obstructing traffic.
He is due in court Sept. 5.
Police arrested more than 250 members of Critical Mass during the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in 2004. Though members have asserted the arrests infringe on their rights to free speech, a federal judge ruled that local government has the right to regulate the rides.
In recent years, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has taken several steps to make the city more green and bicycle friendly, including adding bicycle lanes to several avenues and streets and announcing entire avenue closures to free up routes for bicyclists.
Now who are you going to believe? Me, or your lying eyes?
With your insistence on application of the Rule of Law, you'd make a lousy Anarchist.
I've seen way too many cyclists ride and act like arrogant asses.
Looks like a lesson to be learned for all, in this instance.
Cop on foot, guy on bike, cop chases guy, guy gets away.
I suppose there is a certain thrill to being a “corker” racing away from the cops and blending into the crowd of Critical mass.
I noticed that he had a speedier bike then most of the crowd.
The point of attempting to arrest him in this fashion, he would have gotten away other wise.....
Cops are never in big doo doo.
“The cyclist, Christopher Long, of Hoboken, N.J., was handcuffed, arrested, “
The assault by the cop was a felony. The cop should be in jail. The arrest of the cyclist is an abuse of police power. The cop who arrested him should have to pay the cyclist in civil court. Any prosecutor who prosecutes the cyclist should lose his job.
Dude, you really, really need to take a course in comparative velocities.
2MPH is about the speed old folks copulate. He was going faster than "2MPH".
Geezuz.
your tagline is apt.
Well it was not post 23 so you put out more misinformation, but you are right he corrected his misinformation.
hey, he called it like he saw it when it comes to cops. i call it like i see ‘em when it comes to military. i have to clean up a lot of messes during fleet week. turnabout is fair play, imho.
Well I know there is some frustration about these bike riders, but from what I understand every day twice a day thousands of car owners basically gather en mass and clog the streets of Manhattan making them less safe pedestrians and bikers and slowing down emergency vehicles.
A lot of times the police takes bikes from riders and then don’t give them back, so my guess would be the bike taker is preventing that.
ping
Especially on the Ramos-Compean threads.
Give it a rest. Read post #21.
I’m sure there is more footage available.
The fact that it isn’t being shown is suspicious.
I say the cop was justified.
It seems to me that society as a whole is becoming more and more disrespectful to one another, cops and civilians alike.
We went to Concerts in the Park a few days ago, and honestly I felt as if I were looking a freak show directed by Todd Browning...people heavily tattoed, rudely walking on our blankets and almost kicking us, no one smiling or happy, everyone scowling.
Honestly, it seems as if our civilization is in its last days...
Ed
“It seems to me that society as a whole is becoming more and more disrespectful to one another, cops and civilians alike.
We went to Concerts in the Park a few days ago, and honestly I felt as if I were looking a freak show directed by Todd Browning...people heavily tattoed, rudely walking on our blankets and almost kicking us, no one smiling or happy, everyone scowling.
Honestly, it seems as if our civilization is in its last days...
Ed”
Maybe your observation should apply solely to the tatted ones at the concert. Think about all the non-tatted ones, that stayed away from the concert. Maybe they have better manners, are more civilized, and vastly outnumber the ones who so negatively cloud your outlook.
They aren't cyclists. They are just the type that likes to cause a nuisance. Think 50mph in the left lane types.
That said, the cop is an a-hole.
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