The New York Police Department released surveillance video Friday that shows the arrest of ex-tennis star James Blake, who was mistakenly arrested Wednesday outside of a Manhattan hotel.
In the video, Blake is seen leaning against a column outside of the hotel when an officer runs at him from off-screen. The officer appears to grab Blake’s arm and force him into a wall before tackling him to the ground and handcuffing him while Blake lies on his stomach.
Along with the video, the NYPD released a statement from Deputy Commissioner Stephen Davis stating, “The NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau interviewed James Blake last night. The NYPD is releasing video footage from the September 9th incident outside of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. A copy of the video was provided to Mr. Blake’s attorney. The investigation is still ongoing.”
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Police said undercover investigators were probing a theft ring that uses fraudulent credit cards to make cellphone purchases and that a deliveryman had been helping law enforcement by identifying suspects in the ring. On Wednesday, the deliveryman pointed out Blake as a suspect in the ring as Blake was standing outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel on East 42nd Street, police said.
Blake, who said he was in town for the U.S. Open, said in a statement that the officer who arrested him did not “ask my name, read me my rights, or in any way afford me the dignity and respect due every person who walks the streets of this country.” “And while I continue to believe the vast majority of our police officers are dedicated public servants who conduct themselves appropriately, I know that what happened to me is not uncommon,” added Blake. New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton has said that he has apologized to Blake for the incident, saying Blake was “totally innocent.” The officer involved in the arrest, James Frascatore, has been named in two federal federal lawsuits, which are both still open cases, according to NBC News. Frascatore has been put on desk duty, according to NBC News.
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