Community | July 31, 2008 | 23 comments

Cop who attempted to cover up assault on bicyclist (VIDEO)

source: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/YouTube_video_exposes_cop_who_attempted_0730.html

pigmonkey
"Cyclists here already face enough obstacles," said New York City Councilman David Yassky. "Law enforcement shouldn't be one of them."

A New York City police officer has been placed behind a desk after being caught on tape deliberately pushing a man off of his bike during a Friday Critical Mass event in Times Square.

Patrick Pogan, a 22-year-old rookie cop, former football offensive lineman and son of a retired NYPD detective, claimed in court documents that 29-year-old Christopher Long of Bloomfield, New Jersey was "forcing multiple vehicles to stop abruptly or change their direction to avoid hitting the defendant." Pogan also alleged that Long knocked him to the ground after deliberately aiming the bicycle towards him.

Video uploaded to YouTube appears to contradict that claim, showing Pogan moving in front of Long as he attempted to ride past the line of officers, and shoving Long to the ground. The footage, the New York Daily News noted, "clearly shows Long trying to dodge Pogan, who appears to have remained upright the entire time."

"The police officer looked to see who he was going to pick off," said witness 54-year-old Craig Radhuber. "All of a sudden the cop picked this kid out and bodychecked him...I couldn't believe what was going on."

"If it wasn't caught on video people would not have believed it," rider and documentary filmmaker Christopher Ryan added. "The video just shows what the cyclists have been saying all along, that the police are still harassing and intimidating them from doing group rides."

Long was charged with attempted assault in the third degree, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. He was held for 26 hours.

"The video speaks for itself," Long's attorney told Gothamist. Norman Siegel, civil rights attorney and former counsel for enviromental activist group TIME'S UP!, added his opinion that the video footage showed "unacceptable illegal behavior by this particular police officer."

"I'm proud of my son," said Patrick Pogan Sr., retired NYPD detective and former Joint Terrorism Task Force member. "He's a good kid."
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23 comments // Cop who attempted to cover up assault on bicyclist (VIDEO) // Video

  • shibuya_district
  • DASLIFE
    • 0
      DASLIFE  

    • ok what ever happened to cops sticking out their hand and stopping someone like they do with traffic? Please cyclist should've stopped earlier but the cop didnt have to "take em down dano" . and he's a good kid, yeah maybe at home with daddy.But as a cop he sucks. He made something out of nothing. He could've even given the kid a warning still no. So with all available to the cop he did the right thing and took out the danger..I would like to ask him if he could've done it differently he probably would answer "yeah I would've maced n shoot the bastard!, off camera of course"

    • 3 years ago
  • stopnoise
    • 0
      stopnoise  

    • From our point of view we can see something. From the Officer's point of view he could have seen something that obviously we all missed.

      The true fact is that the cyclist should have stopped for the Officer and not dispute his right of way as a pedestrian. When the Officer saw that he was not going to STOP, he did what was best to avoid a collision.

      In my personal opinion the cyclists were offensively acting like it was a running bull festival disputing anyone's position.

      My question to you guys is:
      - What makes you think the cyclist have any of right of way?

    • 3 years ago
  • cheakywillie
    • 0
      cheakywillie  
    • stopnoise:

      you keep talking about the right of way
      in a collision with cars the law states that you have to do everything in your power to avoid the collision

      it is very clear that the officer moved himself into the position to HIT the cyclist

    • 3 years ago
  • stopnoise
    • 0
      stopnoise  
    • stopnoise:

      ...and you keep forgetting or are in denial that pedestrians have the right of way. In that case, it just happen that the pedestrian was a Police Officer. Now, some of you have an issue of personal respect in relation to the authority. That perhaps is what obstructing some of you from see this issue clearly.

      Ps: By the way we are talking about human lives, not cars. The issue here is between a pedestrian and a biker, where the pedestrian have the right of way. Your comparison is totally off.

    • 3 years ago
  • cheakywillie
  • stopnoise
    • 0
      stopnoise  

    • That was not the Police Officer's fault!
      Bicycle riders must respect pedestrians, therefore he should have stopped and not dispute with a pedestrian, specially a Police Officer. That individual there actually put the Police Officer's life at danger by not stopping his bike. You guys are wrong and using this for a justification of your personal rage against Police Officers. I think some of you here could learn a bit by going back to traffic school.

    • 3 years ago
  • JudahEvan
  • stopnoise
    • 0
      stopnoise  
    • stopnoise:

      First he is a pedestrian and does not matter how many bikes are in the road. This is important guys and you must understand this principal. The rights of a pedestrian comes first, always first. It could be anyone there, it would have been ran over by this challenged cyclist.
      Second, it was the right of the Officer to be where he wants to be. He is a Police Officer!

      What is going on with you guys? I am applying the principals of reason and the Law. You are going to have a lot of problems if you think you have some kind of immunity when you are ridding a bike.

      No one here was at the Officer's standing position so no one here have the qualifications to make a clear argument. It clearly appeared to me in the video that the cyclist run over the Officer. The cyclist even challenged and disputed with the Officer by trying to swing around when his obligation by law is to STOP. The Officer did his best to avoid getting hurt by a fatal collision.

      The cyclist will stand to the charges, the Officer's will be dismissed.

    • 3 years ago
  • JudahEvan
  • cheakywillie
    • 0
      cheakywillie  
    • stopnoise:

      i usually agree with what you have to say
      but after watching this video many times, the cop clearly made a lunge after the bike and threw him to the ground
      you can see his arms push forward...i ride my bike alot and from watching the cyclist he was attempting to move to his left to get out of the way of the officer...the officer changed his momentum to get to the bike rider

    • 3 years ago
  • DASLIFE
    • 0
      DASLIFE  
    • stopnoise:

      WHAT? what video did you you watch? That cop was not in any dam danger. And he could've just as easily let the cyclist pass as he saw him coming. But no in his arrogance he knocks him off the bike. And, And if you noticed the cyclist was slowing down and when he thought the cop was going to let him pass he continued on at which point the cop body checked him. Beside he could've just as easily put out his hand to stop the cyclist couldn't he? And danger oh he was gonna die from a bike hitting him--an ex offesive lineman dude get a grip. Copper boy was dead wrong end of story..He was probably angry that he had to patrol that event that's all. I'm just surprised the punk ass cop didnt shoot that kid if he felt he was in that much danger from a bike--please....

    • 3 years ago
  • UWAZell
    • 0
      UWAZell  

    • Police officers should be charged with assault and subject to jail sentences just like everyone else for excessive use of force. There is no way this officer is able to justify "body checking" a person riding on a bicycle in order to halt him.

    • 3 years ago
  • HaloedGriot
    • 0
      HaloedGriot  

    • Of course the retarded father would say, "He's a good kid."

      The "good kid" was probably out smoking and selling weed before his Dad pressured him to become a cop or get thrown out on his a$$.

      Only thing worse than stupid cops are stupid cop families.

    • 3 years ago
  • Enjoy_Cannabis
  • stopnoise
    • 0
      stopnoise  

    • I saw that! The police officer moved to cross and cyclist did not stop. You do not try to avoid a pedestrian. YOU STOP!

      1. Pedestrian First
      2. Cyclist After
      3. Cars after that!

    • 3 years ago
  • HaloedGriot
  • pigmonkey
  • Enjoy_Cannabis
  • DASLIFE
    • 0
      DASLIFE  

    • See here's more proof about the cops and the general public..this guy was clearly trying to avoid the cop.But NOOOOOOOOOO he had to knock em off the bike.And what for? I think more psych check are in order for all law enforcement at least twice a year!! Just because you're having a bad day as a beat cop or any cop. These guys are human too right? So who's to say that just because he or anyone is working for the law, that they dont have mental issues? I hope the jackass gets kicked off the force, sued beyond belief along with the city, and sent to jail himself where maybe he can recieve some just due. One other thing, with all the people running around here with video camera's and phone camera's why do people still do stupid fuckin shit out in public? Nevermind big brother watching your next door neighbor is shooting the video!!! DUMBASSES!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • JudahEvan
    • 0
      JudahEvan  

    • He should be prosecuted for assault, no excuses. Police officers and politicians are not above the law. Nobody is above the law.

    • 3 years ago
  • goldenways
  • pigmonkey
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