cop body-slams cyclist

[rij73]

Wow... Whatever you think of Critical Mass (and their lack of helmets ) it was clear by the video that the cop just targeted that guy for no reason. He could have cracked his head open...

I know the NYPD is all kinds of stressed out, but this is ridiculous. Cop was only on the job 6 months. There can be no possible excuse. Hope he's convicted of assault!

[OakLeaf]

Hope he's convicted of assault!

Ha... cops who shoot innocent unarmed people dead don't get convicted of anything...

[martinkap]

Ha... cops who shoot innocent unarmed people dead don't get convicted of anything...

Quite right cops are above the law!

The cop filed the following criminal charges aginst the cyclists (interesting is to read the cop's story of what happened):

Page 1
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[Mr. Bloom]

We assume that because we saw it on video that we saw everything that was relevant.

I admit that when I first saw this last night, I came to similar conclusions...but we really don't know, we just think. We assume the witness saw everything else going on...but did he?

Keep in mind that whatever we think of this incident, it is not inconceivable that anyone involved with Critical Mass has done, or will do, anything that this guy was charged with.

Despite what I saw, I am personally not in a position to decide guilt or innocence. Why was this guy singled out when the policeman had plenty of other opportunities to do the same to any one of a number of folks.

I'm not taking sides. I believe in cyclists rights, but I disapprove of Critical Mass tactics, but it's time for the justice system to sort this out...not us.

[mimitabby]

hm, is that attachment big enough?

Aren't videos great????


Well, the officer already lost his job, so that part came true.

[martinkap]

hm, is that attachment big enough?

Aren't videos great????


Well, the officer already lost his job, so that part came true.

Sorry about the size of attachments - I don't know how to make them smaller but I can 'linkify' them... Let me know

Here is a bit of 'bloggers musings' about the cop:

http://animalnewyork.com/news/2008/0...gans-anger.php

http://bikeblog.blogspot.com/2008/07...o-another.html

But honestly, one should judge NYC Critical Mass after riding on Manhattan streets for at least couple of months. Otherwise, there is a huge difference between riding in a small town or rural areas and Manhattan. They both have their dangers and 'hairy moments' but they are just different...

Martina

[Eden]

I dunno - if I was on a jury and you showed me that video I'd think its pretty well opposed to the version of events the police officer gives. This is what I saw:
The officer starts to walk towards the sidewalk, the cyclist, as the officer is now directly in his line of travel, decides to dodge to his left to avoid colliding with the officer. The officer somehow construes this as an aggressive act and tackles the cyclist. The video ends there, so I can't make any comments about what happens afterwards, but I will tell you if it had been me I probably would have not only been dazed and hurt, but very angry and probably would have said something profane first and then something about having his badge too.

This bears little resemblance to the story the officer tells, and it would appear eye witnesses are backing up the cyclist in this case. The police are also obviously having to take this seriously too - the officer in question is on desk duty and there is an internal affairs inquiry.

here's a link to another article http://www.nypost.com/seven/07272008...ist_121984.htm

[mimitabby]

exactly, Eden..

a quote from that article:

"If it wasn't caught on video people would not have believed it," said Christopher Ryan, who rides with Critical Mass and is filming the monthly protests for a documentary. "The video just shows what the cyclists have been saying all along, that the police are still harassing and intimidating them from doing group rides," said Ryan. "An officer assaulted a cyclist for no reason. It's just crazy."

[martinkap]

Of course, the whole story appeared on police forums also. Here is what fellow officers had to say:

http://theerant.yuku.com/topic/7789/...g-cyclist.html

comment #4: "If his intention was to dismount a cyclist, a stick to the front spokes would have been a far safer, more effective method."

comment #6: "The officer appeared to slip on a banana peel left by a bicyclist."

comment #7: "what's the big deal he was keeping the bicyclists in check just letting them know we are still in charge it's an old school tecnique hahahahaha"

comment #8: "That was F'KING GREAT!

This cop stopped an aggressive bike rider flaunting his liberal interpretation of the law and made a controlled stop using the minimum amount of force necessary to effect the arrest without endangering any of the other liberals in the area.

He should be commended for his quick thinking in the face of such danger."


Or here: http://theerant.yuku.com/topic/7802/...s-bicycle.html

comment #7: Great hit. Nothing like the sight of the hippie savage hitting the pavement, whether it's on the business end of the nightstick, or a well executed body block as demonstrated here. If said hippie can't ride his little bike without avoiding the good officers of the law, then kissing the pavement is his lot, and rightfully so. Go fvck yourselves, hippy scum. Job well done, Officer. I myself will be hoisting a pint in your honor at Twins."

[Eden]

wow - and these are the people we rely on to protect us.......
that's really sad and disheartening.

It's no wonder it seems we can't ever get the police to take us seriously when we are harassed, injured or killed by drivers (some of whom have been officers this year!).

[ilima]

I just read the report and it seems kinda bizarre given the video. Makes it sound like he was a solitary cyclist weaving back & forth and that the cyclist purposefully rammed the cop. Looked like he was trying to avoid the cop to me.

Apparently, the cyclist is an Army vet, so he'll have that going for him vs. being just a random punk-*** kid living off mommy & daddy.

[Zen]

BikeSnob has a good take on it.

[PinkBike]

but it's time for the justice system to sort this out...not us.

good luck. it's a legal system, not a justice system.

[withm]

Just to play devil's advocate.... The videos making the rounds don't have any sound. We don't know if the victim was in fact taunting the police officer, daring the "pig" to get in his way, or even if he might have been voicing obscenities towards the police. We are quick to assume the victim is innocent I don't think any of us was actually there and we just don't know.

On the other hand, these Critical Mass Rides probably don't do anything to further the cause of responsible cyclists either.

I've gotten so that I'd rather not do club rides because even in a supposedly well behaved group, there are always one or two idiots who persist in riding all over the road, or fail to fall into single file when "car back" is announced.

A large charity ride with several thousand riders is a little different though many of those participants will still exhibit poor cycling behavior. But with several thousand riders, the motorists will just have to learn to relax and deal with it. I hope they will use the extra time to contemplate the benefits of cycling and wonder why they are in their cars when they too could possibly be on the bike instead.
Dream on.

[OakLeaf]

Just to play devil's advocate.... We don't know if the victim was in fact taunting the police officer... On the other hand, these Critical Mass Rides probably don't do anything to further the cause of responsible cyclists either.

If a cop doesn't have the self-restraint to refrain from attempting to cause serious physical injury to someone who's taunting him, or who's a member of a group that engages in rude behavior, they shouldn't have a badge (and especially a gun).

If a private citizen physically assaults someone who's taunting them, that's a crime, that's not self-defense. Even more so when it's someone who's paid to use self-restraint.