Seems to me the “two witnesses” are at fault...
The police were acting on their information...
As for the close take down maneuver...
Who wants two policeman chasing after a perp on a busy NY street?
Because some people might run, from now on whenever police approach a suspect, they have to tackle them down to the ground and handcuff them before talking to them first? That's not a society I want to live in. How about get the officers in shape, approach warily, and surround the guy with 2 or 3 officers? Which is how many they used on this guy to take him down. If one gets away ever so often, well, tough. Hire younger, faster cops.