You've seen the video of New York Police officer Patrick Pogan tackling bike rider Chris Long during the Critical Mass bicycle ride through Times Square last week. If you haven't seen the video, it clearly shows Pogan targeting a cyclist then tackling him to the ground with a violent body check. The video shows Long riding and steering away from Pogan when Pogan runs directly at the cyclist and knocks him hard to the ground.
The Smoking Gun posted Pogan's sworn statement in which he says he arrested Long because Long "steered the ... bicycle in the direction of [Pogan] and drove the bicycle directly into [Pogan]'s body, causing [Pogan] to fall to the ground and causing [Pogan] to suffer lacerations on [his] forearms." The Manhattan attorney's office filed charges of "attempted assault in the 3rd Degree" against Chris Long as a result of Pogan's statement. Chris Long spent 26 hours in jail after his arrest.
All I can say of Pogan is "Liar Liar Pants on Fire."
Pogan played high school football and was chosen as an offensive lineman for the 2003 Long Island all stars team.
More:
- NY Times: When Official Truth Collides With Cheap Digital Technology
- Gothamist: Pogan's father, a retired NYPD detective, says "You do what you gotta do to make the arrest." Unbelievable.
Thanks for the NYT link. Officer Pogan's behavior is unbelievable, disgraceful, disgusting, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhere should we send our notices of shame?
ReplyDeleteDoes Mayor Bloomberg know what's going on?
I hope officer Pogan goes on to a rewarding, illustrious career as a mall security guard - unarmed, of course.
ReplyDeleteCritical Mass rides are stupid--reflected by a good chunk of their participants. Even so, the behavior by the police officer is unacceptable. What makes it even worse is the lies that resulted in jail time. This policeman should lose his job.
ReplyDeleteI'm not buying that story about the bike swerving into Officer Pogan, but I'm real suspicious about that supposed "sworn statement" because there's no signature on it swearing to anything! Without the officer's signature, it's just a piece of papers with words typed on it.
ReplyDeleteWatch the vid. The cop walked up to him and assaulted him.
ReplyDelete