NEW YORK — New surveillance video has been released showing an NYPD police officer tackling former tennis star James Blake outside a Manhattan hotel in a case of mistaken identity.
In an earlier statement, NYPD said officers tackled and detained Blake believing he was a suspect involved in an ongoing investigation regarding fraudulently purchased cellphones, according to WPIX.
According to the New York Daily News, 38-year-old Officer James Frascatore of Long Island was the officer who is seen on the video body-slamming the tennis player outside the Grand Hyatt on 42nd Street.
Frascatore is reportedly a defendant in four ongoing civil cases that claim he and several other officers used excessive force during false arrests. He has also had five complaints against him with the Civilian Complaint Review Board.
Deputy Commissioner Stephen Davis release a statement that stated:
“The NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau interviewed James Blake last night. The NYPD is releasing video footage from the September 9th incident outside of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. A copy of the video was provided to Mr. Blake’s attorney. The investigation is still ongoing.”
Blake told CBS News on Saturday that the officer who wrongly arrested him should be fired.
“He had his opportunity to have a badge and I don’t think he should have it anymore,” he said.
