James Blake body slammed by NYPD for no reason

[Cicero]

So, did they think he had stolen the identity of James Blake?  What in the Hell?

EXCLUSIVE: James Blake, former tennis star, slammed to ground and handcuffed outside midtown hotel by white NYPD cops who mistook him for ID theft suspect

Former tennis great James Blake was slammed to the ground, handcuffed and detained by five plainclothes city cops Wednesday outside his midtown hotel before heading out to the U.S. Open, Blake told the Daily News.

The officers, who were all white, mistook Blake for a suspect in an identity theft ring operating around the midtown hotel.

The incident occurred around noon in front of the Grand Hyatt on East 42 St., as Blake, a 35-year-old African-American who attended Harvard before going on tour, was waiting for a car to take him to Flushing Meadows, where he was making corporate appearances for Time-Warner Cable.

"It was definitely scary and definitely crazy," said Blake, who was once ranked No. 4 in the world and was among the most popular U.S. players of his generation. He suffered a cut to his left elbow and bruises to his left leg.

Asked if he considered it a case of racial profiling, Blake said, "I don't know if it's as simple as that. To me it's as simple as unnecessary police force, no matter what my race is. In my mind there's probably a race factor involved, but no matter what there's no reason for anybody to do that to anybody.

"You'd think they could say, 'Hey, we want to talk to you. We are looking into something. I was just standing there. I wasn't running. It's not even close (to be okay). It's blatantly unnecessary. You would think at some point they would get the memo that this isn't okay, but it seems that there's no stopping it."

Blake said he had just answered a few questions from a writer for a tennis magazine and was texting when he looked up and saw someone in shorts and a T-shirt charging at him, splitting the doorman outside the Hyatt, an official hotel for the U.S. Tennis Association.

"Maybe I'm naïve, but I just assumed it was someone I went to high school with or something who was running at me to give me a big hug, so I smiled at the guy," Blake said. Blake said the officer, who he said was not wearing a badge, picked him up and threw him down on the sidewalk, yelled at him to roll over on his face and said, "Don't say a word.

Blake said he responded, "I'm going to do whatever you say. I'm going to cooperate. But do you mind if I ask what this is all about?"

An officer said, "We'll tell you. You are in safe hands."

Said Blake, "I didn't feel very safe."

Blake said several other officers rushed up to join the first officer, eventually five cops in all surrounding him. He said he was told he had been identified by two people as someone who had been involved in an identity-theft ring operating in the area for the last week.

Blake arrived in the city early Wednesday morning, taking the redeye form his home in San Diego, where he lives with his wife and young children. He told the cops to look at his license, in his left front pocket, and his Open credential, in his back pocket.

After being handcuffed for about 15 minutes, Blake said the last of the five officers realized they had the wrong person and apologized. The first officer who tackled and cuffed him never said anything.

Known for his charitable and community-centered work throughout his career, Blake just last week announced he was running the New York City Marathon to raise money for cancer research.

Said a source close to Blake, "For all the people this to happen to. James Blake is one of the nicest people you could ever want to meet."

Blake said at first he didn't want to discuss the incident publicly, but felt he had an obligation to bring to light another instance of excessive police.

"I have resources to get to the bottom of this. I have a voice," Blake said. "But what about someone who doesn't have those resources and doesn't have a voice?

The real problem is that I was tackled for no reason and that happens to a lot of people who don't have a media outlet to voice that to.

Blake said he would like an apology from the NYPD, and like to know there would be some repercussions for the officers involved, "so they know it's not okay to go out there and do this again tomorrow."

Blake eventually got in the car and went to the Open, an event that has long been his favorite event and where he was as popular as any player in the world. He said he wanted to honor his commitments, though he was still plenty shaken up several hours later.

"It's hard to believe this can still be happening," he said.

www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/ex-tennis-star-james-blake-mistakenly-tackled-white-cops-article-1.2353983

[iammalcolmx]

Chile, you know the reason. Can we live?

[captainobvious]

I love James Blake.

[Velar Fricative]

I'm happy he spoke up about this awful incident. Six officers for an ID theft?? Give me a fucking break.

[pixy0stix]

But noooo, this type of thing never happens.

[eclaires]

Wow.

I love James Blake. I miss watching him play. He was one of my faves.

[Cicero]

Sept 9, 2015 17:36:44 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Chile, you know the reason. Can we live?

And here I was proud of myself for judiciously editing out several adjectives.

[iammalcolmx]

Sept 9, 2015 17:54:34 GMT -5 Cicero said:

Sept 9, 2015 17:36:44 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Chile, you know the reason. Can we live?

And here I was proud of myself for judiciously editing out several adjectives.

LOL, girl !!!

[EnchantedSoul]

So we can't stand on sidewalks now? Mmmkay, duly noted.
Furthermore, if he was the ID theft man, is it really necessary to body slam folks who are smiling at you? Damn.

[orangeblossom]

WTH. I mean, I just can't come up with anything, other than WTH.

[bugandbibs]

For real though, since when did questioning someone for id theft involve tackling someone who is totally unaware?

I'm tired.

[summer]

Sept 9, 2015 23:12:32 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

For real though, since when did questioning someone for id theft involve tackling someone who is totally unaware?

I'm tired.

Right?? Why are the police always running up on people who aren't running. It's like the one dude who did that run-roll straight outta Chips at that pool party. Is it THAT serious??

[summer]

And why didn't everyone apologize right then and there? We are all aware who James Blake is now. What needs to be investigated before the force can issue a public apology?

[orangeblossom]

Sept 10, 2015 5:06:24 GMT -5 summer said:

Sept 9, 2015 23:12:32 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

For real though, since when did questioning someone for id theft involve tackling someone who is totally unaware?

I'm tired.

Right?? Why are the police always running up on people who aren't running. It's like the one dude who did that run-roll straight outta Chips at that pool party. Is it THAT serious??

I swear, it's like some of them are thinking, I learned all of these techniques and such I'm training, and by golly, I'm going to use it, even if it so excessive.

I don't get it. The man was standing there, and you just tackle him. Even if he was the thief, was all that necessary.

[iammalcolmx]

I am so confused here.........Running up on someone, tackling them, and placing them on the ground, is standard protocol for an identity theft suspect?

[cville]

Disgusting. The tackling officer was in plainclothes. Even if it had NOT been Blake and had been the suspect it's not like he'd have seen a uniform and sprinted away.

[YeahSure]

Sept 10, 2015 6:07:58 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

I am so confused here.........Running up on someone, tackling them, and placing them on the ground, is standard protocol for an identity theft suspect?

Only if he's black.

[Cicero]

Sept 9, 2015 17:44:25 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Wow.

I love James Blake. I miss watching him play. He was one of my faves.

Me too. He is one class act.

[downtoearth]

Sept 9, 2015 23:12:32 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

For real though, since when did questioning someone for id theft involve tackling someone who is totally unaware?

I'm tired.

Especially over identity theft. And who were the people who "identified him" as he stood waiting for his car and answering reporter's questions? What are their repercussions?

[Cicero]

The police commissioner is insisting that they did nothing wrong because Blake is a dead ringer for their suspect. So basically he's saying that throwing someone to the ground is perfectly acceptable when detaining someone who isn't fleeing and you want to talk to in regards to a stolen credit card?! WTF dude.

[iammalcolmx]

ttt you know good and well I need your H's reaction to all of this.

[ttt]

Sept 10, 2015 8:48:06 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

ttt you know good and well I need your H's reaction to all of this.

Well, first imagine the look on his face when I read him the story and got to the part about how they did this while looking for identity thieves. 

[iammalcolmx]

Sept 10, 2015 9:01:43 GMT -5 ttt said:

Sept 10, 2015 8:48:06 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

ttt you know good and well I need your H's reaction to all of this.

Well, first imagine the look on his face when I read him the story and got to the part about how they did this while looking for identity thieves. 

Was it like this?

[ttt]

Sept 10, 2015 9:15:48 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Sept 10, 2015 9:01:43 GMT -5 ttt said:

Well, first imagine the look on his face when I read him the story and got to the part about how they did this while looking for identity thieves. 

Was it like this?

I would say that's a pretty accurate representation.

He can't understand what that guy could have been thinking or what possibly reason he could have had for tackling someone just standing there who, at worst, stole someone's credit card number. If the guy's been identified by witnesses as someone who just murdered five people inside the building, okay, but come on.

AND THEN you don't even apologize??

[summer]

Sept 10, 2015 8:30:05 GMT -5 Cicero said:

The police commissioner is insisting that they did nothing wrong because Blake is a dead ringer for their suspect. So basically he's saying that throwing someone to the ground is perfectly acceptable when detaining someone who isn't fleeing and you want to talk to in regards to a stolen credit card?! WTF dude.

Hold up. So it's MY fault that YOU think ALL Black people look alike???