File photo of James Blake.
New York:
The New York policeman who wrestled former US tennis star James Blake to the ground last month used excessive force and should face disciplinary action, a city commission looking into the incident said Thursday.
It paves the way for either a negotiated settlement between the policeman and Blake or an internal New York Police Department trial.
Blake, 35, was arrested, wrestled to the ground and handcuffed on September 9 outside a hotel in Manhattan as he was heading to watch the US Open.
James Frascatore, a plainclothes police officer, had mistaken him for another man, who was suspected of illegally selling cell phones.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), which looks at gripes against police, said it had "substantiated one or more allegations" by Blake against Frascatore and recommended he face discipline that could include suspension or sacking, according to a letter sent to Blake's lawyer.
Officer Daniel Herzog, who authorized Blake's arrest, was also cited in the review, for abuse of authority, for which the board recommended minor administrative punishments.
Blake welcomed the "quick and thorough review of the incident during which I was attacked."
"It is my understanding that these officers now face an administrative trial for their roles in the respective offenses," he added.
The decision on whether the officers will face further punishment now falls to New York Police Chief Bill Bratton.
Any police internal trial would be a "very public process," he said.
Bratton has previously deemed Frascatore's actions unjustified and apologized to Blake.
Blake, who was ranked as high as number four in the world during his tennis career, is black and has said he felt a responsibility to use the incident and his celebrity to raise awareness about police violence.
Police across the United States are under fierce scrutiny over accusations of excessive or deadly force against black American men.
But the review's findings angered Patrick Lynch, president of the New York Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, who called the CCRB "cop-hating" and said Frascatore used "an acceptable technique to gain compliance during a complex ongoing operation."
The CCRB has been expanded over the last year, as criticism of the police force has grown.
It paves the way for either a negotiated settlement between the policeman and Blake or an internal New York Police Department trial.
Blake, 35, was arrested, wrestled to the ground and handcuffed on September 9 outside a hotel in Manhattan as he was heading to watch the US Open.
James Frascatore, a plainclothes police officer, had mistaken him for another man, who was suspected of illegally selling cell phones.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), which looks at gripes against police, said it had "substantiated one or more allegations" by Blake against Frascatore and recommended he face discipline that could include suspension or sacking, according to a letter sent to Blake's lawyer.
Officer Daniel Herzog, who authorized Blake's arrest, was also cited in the review, for abuse of authority, for which the board recommended minor administrative punishments.
Blake welcomed the "quick and thorough review of the incident during which I was attacked."
"It is my understanding that these officers now face an administrative trial for their roles in the respective offenses," he added.
The decision on whether the officers will face further punishment now falls to New York Police Chief Bill Bratton.
Any police internal trial would be a "very public process," he said.
Bratton has previously deemed Frascatore's actions unjustified and apologized to Blake.
Blake, who was ranked as high as number four in the world during his tennis career, is black and has said he felt a responsibility to use the incident and his celebrity to raise awareness about police violence.
Police across the United States are under fierce scrutiny over accusations of excessive or deadly force against black American men.
But the review's findings angered Patrick Lynch, president of the New York Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, who called the CCRB "cop-hating" and said Frascatore used "an acceptable technique to gain compliance during a complex ongoing operation."
The CCRB has been expanded over the last year, as criticism of the police force has grown.
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