This whole article reads like a smokescreen for what actually happened. If you look at the video - the Times has it[0], strange they didn't link it from the article - Blake was leaning up against a wall minding his own business, and was more or less rushed, grabbed and tackled by an undercover officer. He did not appear to be threatening anyone and did not appear to offer any resistance, at least none beyond what anyone would if they were suddenly attacked.
He was mistaken for an alleged participant in a credit card fraud scheme; the actual suspect ended up either not charged or acquitted. The officer in question has multiple complaints of abusive behavior on his record.
The whole thing stinks, and while Blake received apologies from the mayor and some other officials, he correctly pointed out that probably wouldn't have happened were he not James Blake. Honestly I don't understand why it matters that he might resemble the suspect, given the footage it's pretty clear that there were other ways to approach Mr. Blake without it going down like it did.
This was not a case where an NYPD officer just hadn't spend enough time around other races (...please). This was yet another example of an overaggressive cop, and for whatever reason Ms. Swarns chose to write this article comparing it to some goofball crap w/ other celebrities rather than what it is. It barely makes sense.
He was mistaken for an alleged participant in a credit card fraud scheme; the actual suspect ended up either not charged or acquitted. The officer in question has multiple complaints of abusive behavior on his record.
The whole thing stinks, and while Blake received apologies from the mayor and some other officials, he correctly pointed out that probably wouldn't have happened were he not James Blake. Honestly I don't understand why it matters that he might resemble the suspect, given the footage it's pretty clear that there were other ways to approach Mr. Blake without it going down like it did.
This was not a case where an NYPD officer just hadn't spend enough time around other races (...please). This was yet another example of an overaggressive cop, and for whatever reason Ms. Swarns chose to write this article comparing it to some goofball crap w/ other celebrities rather than what it is. It barely makes sense.
[0] http://www.nytimes.com/video/nyregion/100000003905322/survei...