New York City police officer Patrick Pogan was indicted in December 2008, after pushing a moving cyclist, Christopher Long, to the ground in July 2008. In February of 2009, Pogan was either dismissed by the NYPD or resigned, depending on the source.PlanetSave: Cop Who Shoved Cyclist Fired by NYPD... (February 20, 2009) As Pogan claimed that Long was resisting arrest and obstructing government administration, he could face up to 4 years in prison on the charge of falsifying records.
Long was participating in a biking event organized by the non-violent Critical Mass group, which coordinates monthly bike rides to highlight alternatives to driving.San Francisco Chronicle: NYC cop indicted in body-check seen on YouTube (December 15, 2008)
Critical Mass Statement
"Critical Mass is a peaceful, nonviolent bicycle ride promoting the use of nonpolluting transportation. There is no reason for the police to use such unprovoked violent tactics."My Fox New York: YouTube Video Shows New York City Police Officer Shoving Bicyclist (July 28, 2008)
Featured Video
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
Incident happened on July 25, 2008
-
Time
9:35 p.m.
-
Fact:
Pogan was 22 at the time of the incident
-
Fact:
Long spent 26 hours in jail after the incidentThe Smoking Gun: NYPD Bruise (July 29, 2008)
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
Video footage seemed to reveal a different story to the one Pogan described in his statementThe New York Times: Officer Is Indicted in Toppling of Cyclist (December 15, 2008)
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
