Cop Caught On Tape Body-Checking Cyclist

NYC Officer Stripped Of Badge After Being Seen Knocking Over Protester In YouTube Video

(AP)  Police stripped a New York City officer of his badge and gun Monday after a video posted on YouTube showed him body-checking a bicyclist who was part of a Times Square demonstration.

The video was recorded Friday at the Critical Mass ride, a monthly protest of urban reliance on motor vehicles.

The video, posted anonymously, shows the officer standing in the street as bikes whiz past. He moves toward a cyclist and violently knocks him to the ground in front of crowds of people.

The officer in the video was placed on desk duty pending the outcome of a police department investigation, chief police spokesman Paul Browne said. The officer's name wasn't released.

The biker, Christopher Long, of Hoboken, N.J., was arrested because he was obstructing traffic in the heart of Times Square, a criminal complaint said. He was charged with attempted assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

The complaint said Long, 29, deliberately steered his bicycle into the officer, causing both of them to fall to the ground.

During his arrest, Long squirmed and kicked, saying to the officers, "You are pawns in the game. I'm gonna have your job," the complaint said.

There were no other arrests during the ride.

Long's lawyer, David Rankin, said he hopes the Manhattan district attorney's office will drop the charges. The district attorney's office said it was investigating.

Long's next court date was set for Sept. 5.

[poker_champp]

Stupid pigs. Most cops are poorly educated, power hungry testosterone freaks with guns.

[bobnjersey]

[The biker, Christopher Long, of Hoboken, N.J., was arrested because he was obstructing traffic in the heart of Times Square, a criminal complaint said. He was charged with attempted assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. The complaint said Long, 29, deliberately steered his bicycle into the officer, causing both of them to fall to the ground. ]

another case of a cop lying about the circumstances of the arrest to cover his abuse. the video clearly shows the cop stepping into the path of the bicycle to apply the body check.

i''m surprised he didn''t taser the guy once he was down.

[papabc]

Saw the tape and there is more to the story then we see.

The Bike Guy should have been slammed to the ground.

Give the cop back his badge.

[mecury69]

"Most cops are poorly educated, power hungry testosterone freaks with guns.

Posted by poker_champp at 12:01 PM : Jul 29, 2008"

You said it brother.

[luvny-2009]

Too many bad cops out there any more! Sad it''s your word against theirs and they always win unless you have proof like this video!

[poker_champp]

"Yeah, until you need a cop. Then you hipocrites can''''t dial 9-1-1 fast enough."

That''s funny. Any time I''ve needed police assistance they''ve been slow to act and were annoyed to be bothered with real work. This cop should be in jail for assault.

[stn_sage]

Nothing unique about this! There are plenty of bad cops ALL over America, they aren''t restricted just to NYC!

The problem is: it makes it harder for and on the good cops who try very hard to do the best they can for the public! And there are plenty of these men and women, too!

[shippg-2009]

The video shows the officer was definitely out of line. However, why do Critical Mass do the annoying things they do? The story said they were all obstructing traffic. In Seattle a mob of CM people pulled a guy from his car and beat him up because he was trying to pull away from the curb.

In Oregon there is a new law that cyclists have to obey traffic laws. Period. They are getting the same priced tickets for running red lights, etc. It is good, but the bikers are hard to catch.

We can share the road. Just do not impose on others.

[chatmandu002]

Don''t pedestrians have the right of way. Failure to yield is what the cyclist did wrong. Did anyone see the what Critical Mass riders did to a motorist in Seattle. Damaged his car and beat the *** out of him.
I think Critical Mass needs to be shut down.

[whiskyrokkr]

chatmandu002
-----------
I agree with you. These people need to respect the rules of the road and respect people around them. I wish he would have really beat the SH*t out of this idiot.

[destardi]

1)"Police" are human beings, who are paid to do a job.
That job comes (supposedly) with extensive training.
They accept the position with the understanding that they can carry a weapon to "keep the peace".
They accept the position with the understanding they will be dealing with criminals.

2)Police are nothing more than a guy or woman being paid to do a job; don''t give me this "honor", and "respect" ***.

This cop deserves a desk job alright...sitting at a desk hammering out license plates in prison.

People who defend criminals like this "cop" are obviously ignorant, and have never heard of the Standford Prison experiment.

but that''s ok, ignorant is forever.

[bobnjersey]

[The NYPD should have been doing this a long time ago.]
[Posted by lazareth at 12:38 PM : Jul 29, 2008]

they have ... and they do. maybe you should look up ''abner louima'' ... or ''sean bell'' ... just to name a few. the 2004 republican convention in msg was another fine example of nyc police work.

this sounds like the type of justice you can relate to.

[destardi]

*make that Stanford.

[sociald63]

this idiotic bicyclist thought he was lance armstrong and could get away - i hope the d.a. & the police prosecute this loser

[rytom64]

There should also be a law that allows you to video tape a cop when he is giving you a ticket, etc. This way you can have proof of any wrong-doing in court. They do it to you, you do it back.

[sistatee-2009]

I was going to watch the video, but stopped it after the Exxon/Mobile commercial hit me in the face.

[bobnjersey]

[Don''''t pedestrians have the right of way. Failure to yield is what the cyclist did wrong.]
[Posted by chatmandu002 at 12:41 PM : Jul 29, 2008]

pedestrians have right of way in the cross walk ... and this does not apply to nyc. i take it you haven''t been there ... you''ll get yourself killed assuming you have right of way.

if we want to focus on petty justifications, the cop was jaywalking ... crossing the street while not in the crosswalk ... but it''s understood that the laws don''t apply to cops ... and that''s likely not a big deal w/ minor/petty issues.

assault is what the ''cop'' did wrong. lets see ... assault vs. not yielding to jaywalking pedestrians ... hmmm ... i say the cop wins ... and he should be held accountable for those actions.

[jtdev1]

Wow, just saw the video and for real, this cop body checked this bike rider.

The rider steered out of the way of the cop but the cop took large steps to get close enough to body slam the rider.

This cop needs to be in jail!

I hope the bike rider sues the city and goes after criminal charges against this cop.

[whiskyrokkr]

sociald63
---------
You are correct. He should have hit him with a billy club to get his attention. The biker was nothing more than a punk on wheels.

[astrobirds]

The video is very hard too watch. It makes me cry seeing some mean bully push over an innocent bicyclist, who is doing something for a better cause. Its very sad to watch an innocent being assaulted on top of that its upsetting to know the cop lied and arresting him on false charges.

[wellhell3]

Hahahahaha! OMG! The cyclist was riding AWAY from the direction of the cop and the cop busted him to the ground! Now how was he assaulting the cop?

This is nonsense! Why didn''t they just let the bikers ride through and do their thing and move ON!

[inventagod2]

CBS has ballz of steel to run an Exxon ad before they let you watch a Critical Mass video - does CBS even understand the Critical Mass idealogy???

However, do WATCH the video, it shows how far bu$HAMErica has fallen.

The cops charged the cyclist with ''deliberately steered his bicycle into the officer'', when the video shows the exact opposite.
As usual, though - the charges will not stand in court, and Christopher Long WILL have the dumb bully''s job, and a huge settlement from the city.

You DO have the right to protest in the USA, facists!

[jamjholmes]

Fire that tool who doesn''t even come close to representing the citizens. Serve and protect, yeah fkin right.

[whiskyrokkr]

Lazereth
-- --- --
Your right he did have it coming. No buisness pushing the police that way.

[talkingham]

This cop was a one-man riot wasn''t he. Hope he enjoys the desk job. I''ve seen and photographed police at-riot, they love to tangle don''t they. Instead of going after real crooks some of the maladjusted ones love to kick the little guy.

Like the other story linked here about the cops claiming some kid drugged them with cookies that they claim initially tested positive for LSD and then they claimed it was pot. Those are so different from each other that their claims are plain stupid and paranoid.

I think the Critical Mass demonstrations which also take place in my city are stupid too, but they are usually held at times where no one would be disturbed like 6PM on Saturdays when no one is downtown anyway!

[pandamonium6]

Twenty years ago, the cop would have won in court as it would have been a case of the cops word against the cyclist. Now, almost everyone has video cameras - even if only on their cell phones. The idea that Big Brother is watching goes both ways. Today, the internet is watching Big Brother!

[frank-e1]

This just shows how dangerous bicycles are. Ban the bikes!

[nextgenman]

Posted by whiskyrokkr at 01:18 PM : Jul 29, 2008
-------

Yawn. You seeking attention?

[papabc]

Hmmm
Make me wonder what the bike guys did just prior to the video footage.

Is hard being a Cop in todays world. A short video and the cops looks like the bad guy.

Saw and heard what happens to CO when they are on duty. What the prisoner do to and throw at the CO make me wonder why more prisoner do not have the carp beat out of them.

Similar for cops. We abuse them until they are need then wonder why they did not help a little faster.
When they are the good guys we still make them the criminals.

We see an abuser get slammed then blame the cops.

[nextgenman]

Posted by hhroams at 01:26 PM : Jul 29, 2008
------------

The only problem with your typically silly Republican Argument is that the cops were''nt doing it to all the bike riders.

[mark46n]

Fry the PIG. He should be arrested for Felony assault, false arrest, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and just pure stupidity. This guy was trying to avoid any contact with the PIG and did nothing wrong. A picture or video in this case speaks a thousand words and this one is screaming police brutality. Good luck flippin hamburgers at McDonalds PIG because thats the only job you''re going to get after this.

[bobnjersey]

[We see an abuser get slammed then blame the cops.]
[Posted by papabc at 01:27 PM : Jul 29, 2008]

what was he doing that would be considered ''abuse'' ... riding his bike w/ thousands of others in a bike demonstration?

[lochlan-2009]

There used to be a time that being a cop meant you were a hero, now, most times, it just means your a thug with the backing of the government.

[whiskyrokkr]

NextGenMan
----------
Too bad you wasn''t the one on the bike.

[inventagod2]

Awww - the two girls, whiskyrokkr and lazareth found each other, don''t ask/don''t tell, huh?
Sharing a crack pipe sometimes backfires...

[whiskyrokkr]

The only way this story could have been better is it the cop would have took out more bikers. That would have been great.

[bobnjersey]

[The only problem with your typically silly Republican Argument is that the cops were''''nt doing it to all the bike riders.]
[Posted by nextGenMan at 01:28 PM : Jul 29, 2008]

it''s much bigger than a silly republican argument ... it''s an actual condition ... some would classify it as a personality disorder ... and those w/ the condition are known as authoritarian followers. they always need an enemy (communists, terrorists, liberals) ... they don''t operate by rational means ... facts and logic will not sway them ... and they bow to whomever and whatever they deem to be their authoritarian leaders (in this case it''s the nyc cops).

pretty much any remaining ''28 percenter'' (those still supporting gwb) are authoritarian followers.

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

[mbcsmith]

pretty much any remaining ''''28 percenter'''' (those still supporting gwb) are authoritarian followers.

http://home.cc.umanitoba.c
a/~altemey/


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Posted by bobnjersey at 02:04 PM : Jul 29, 2008



LOL...LOL again. A guy from Jersey talking psych-babble. Bush derangement syndrome pal. An affliction of the LIBS.

[michtop]

Looks like the guy deserved it to me. If I was the cop I would have stiff armed him across his neck. Shouldnt be riding a bike down the street anyway,dont the guy have a car?

[lochlan-2009]

pretty much any remaining ''''''''28 percenter'''''''' (those still supporting gwb) are authoritarian followers.

LOL...LOL again. A guy from Jersey talking psych-babble. Bush derangement syndrome pal. An affliction of the LIBS.

Posted by mbcsmith

A case and point.

[bobnjersey]

[LOL...LOL again. A guy from Jersey talking psych-babble. Bush derangement syndrome pal. An affliction of the LIBS.]
[Posted by mbcsmith at 02:10 PM : Jul 29, 2008]

once again ... a right thinker w/ a bankrupt argument ... relegated to ''disparaging jersey references''.

your so called ''syndrome'' is what ''you'' made up when mom didn''t bring the grilled cheese in time for you nap. auth follower is a well documented and highly researched condition.

all the psycho babble is in ''your'' head ... i''m just trying to help everyone understand your pathetic and insidious idealogical arguments ... and why you yourself can''t see how pathetic and insidious it actually is.

[poker_champp]

" I treat them like the armed, under-educated animals that they are and stay away from them."

Beautiful. LMAO. Not a bad idea, either...

[mbcsmith]

all the psycho babble is in ''''your'''' head ... i''''m just trying to help everyone understand your pathetic and insidious idealogical arguments ... and why you yourself can''''t see how pathetic and insidious it actually is.


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Posted by bobnjersey at 02:17 PM : Jul 29, 2008




Moron lives in Jersey. Nuff said. What an idiot.

[rushlimpdrug]

"Police stripped a New York City officer of his
badge and gun Monday . . .
The officer in the video was placed on desk duty
. . The officer''s name wasn''t released. . . "



Once again cops protecting "their own".

Had it been a "regular thug" he would have
been tazered to death by a "good cop".

Keep him on the payroll.

[capecodder6]

It is so nice to seee the level of english knowledge that some people have. Need more whiskey rokkr? It is "he should have taken out more bikers not took you dumb a--. And michtop.."don''t the guy have a car? How about doesn''t the guy have a car? Your line translated fully is...do not the guy have a car? Another dumb a--.

[bobnjersey]

[Moron lives in Jersey. Nuff said. What an idiot.]
[Posted by mbcsmith at 02:24 PM : Jul 29, 2008]

thanks for re-inforcing that auth follower profile assessment ... your such a faithful ''follower''.

[whiskyrokkr]

capecodder6:

Wow, your so smart.

[cepe10-2009]

The law enforcement officers name need to be revealed. He is a criminal. and a lying gutless coward as well as are his accomplishes who helped him lie in his charging documents.

[mbcsmith]

thanks for re-inforcing that auth follower profile assessment ... your such a faithful ''''follower''''.


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Posted by bobnjersey at 02:29 PM : Jul 29, 2008



LOL...LOL again. What a weak kneed pussi. bet you ride your tricycle to NYC on Fridays just to snarl the traffic like a good little anti-social LIB.

[allurfears]

It''s a police state "my friends." The police protect the government and the government protects the police. Try to exercise your constitutional rights as a citizen and you''ll find that they exist in print only.

In reality, this country is becoming like Russia and China. They have nice laws and Constitutions that supposedly elaborate and protect citizen''s rights, but the government just ignores it. Welcome to the REAL America- land of the privileged and home of the underclass.