The New York Police Department released a video Friday of an officer tackling and arresting former professional tennis player James Blake.
NYPD releases video of James Blake being arrested. pic.twitter.com/OD4HQINlJy
— Ryan Ruggiero (@RyanRuggiero) September 11, 2015
NYPD officials claim it is a case of mistaken identity, as they were looking for a suspect in an identify-theft case. The officer, James Frascatore, has been accused of using excessive force on numerous occasions throughout the course of his career.
Frascatore, 38, was wearing plainclothes when he tackled Blake, who was waiting for his ride to the U.S. Open tennis tournament outside his Manhattan hotel. Frascatore has been placed on desk duty while the NYPD conducts an investigation into the incident.
NYPD Commissioner William J. Bratton, who said Thursday he personally phoned Blake to apologize about the incident, maintains that the arrest was because of how similar Blake looked to the suspect, but not because of his skin color.
(h/t Washington Post)
