Jul 30, 2008 2:30 pm US/Eastern
NY Cop In Shoving Cyclist Incident Backed By Union
NYPD Officer Caught On Video Pushing 'Critical Mass' Biker To The Pavement
CBS 2's Don Dahler contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The cyclist in the white t-shirt moments before a police officer in front of him slams him to the ground apparently for no reason.
CBS
The rookie New York City police officer stripped of his gun and badge after he was caught on video slamming a cyclist in motion to the ground is getting the strong support of union officials.
PBA officials are defending the rookie officer's actions on Wednesday morning, saying Pogan saw Logan weaving in and out of traffic and took action in order to help prevent a hazardous situation.
The cyclist was among over a hundred other "Critical Mass" riders passing through Times Square Friday evening, when witnesses say -- and as a video posted on YouTube shows -- two officers approach him.
What happens next is disturbing. One of the officers intercepts the rider, identified as Christopher Long of Bloomfield, N.J., and apparently deliberately shoves him hard as he rides by, sending the cyclist hard to the pavement.
Craig Radhuber was taking part in the ride, and witnessed the incident.
"And the one spun around, saw a bicyclist and grabbed him off his bicycle. And then the other policeman jumped on top of him and the two were wrestling, wrestling this guy down trying to arrest him," he told CBS 2.
Radhuber had not yet seen the video until CBS 2 showed it to him.
"Wow!" he said watching it for the first time. "I was so upset when I saw this thing happen."
Critical Mass sponsors monthly bike rides in New York and other cities to bring attention to bike ridership, ironically, to make city streets safer for cyclists.
Radhuber has participated in numerous such rides through the city and says the animosity on the part of police towards Critical Mass has increased.
"I've never seen it like this before. This actually surprised me," he said. "It makes me not trust the police at all. It makes me very angry."
Police placed the officer, identified as Patrick Pogan, on desk duty pending the outcome of a department investigation. Pogan told officials that Long was obstructing traffic and that the biker was actually trying to run him down.
Long, 29, was charged with attempted assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
He'll make an appearance in court on August 5.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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