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James Blake, ex-tennis star, mistakenly arrested in New York | James Blake, ex-tennis star, mistakenly arrested in New York |
(about 5 hours later) | |
New York City police officers have mistakenly detained a former professional tennis player as he waited for a car to take him to the US Open. | New York City police officers have mistakenly detained a former professional tennis player as he waited for a car to take him to the US Open. |
James Blake told the New York Daily News that a group of five plainclothes officers slammed him to the ground and held him for 15 minutes on Wednesday. | James Blake told the New York Daily News that a group of five plainclothes officers slammed him to the ground and held him for 15 minutes on Wednesday. |
The police said in a statement that the officers mistakenly believed he was a suspect in a theft case. | The police said in a statement that the officers mistakenly believed he was a suspect in a theft case. |
Once it was determined that Mr Blake was not the suspect, he was released. | Once it was determined that Mr Blake was not the suspect, he was released. |
Mr Blake, 35, said he suffered a cut on his arm and bruises on his legs. He said the officers did not speak to him before they pushed him to the ground. | Mr Blake, 35, said he suffered a cut on his arm and bruises on his legs. He said the officers did not speak to him before they pushed him to the ground. |
"You'd think they could say: 'Hey, we want to talk to you. We are looking in to something'," Mr Blake told the Daily News. | "You'd think they could say: 'Hey, we want to talk to you. We are looking in to something'," Mr Blake told the Daily News. |
"You would think at some point they would get the memo that this isn't OK, but it seems that there's no stopping it." | "You would think at some point they would get the memo that this isn't OK, but it seems that there's no stopping it." |
Once the fourth-ranked player in the world, Mr Blake was set to make an appearance at the US Open for the Time-Warner Cable company. | Once the fourth-ranked player in the world, Mr Blake was set to make an appearance at the US Open for the Time-Warner Cable company. |
He retired following his US Open exit in 2013 after winning 10 singles titles in a career in which he also became the number one US player. | |
Police said a "cooperating witness" mistakenly identified Mr Blake as being involved in "a ring dealing in fraudulently purchased cellphones". | Police said a "cooperating witness" mistakenly identified Mr Blake as being involved in "a ring dealing in fraudulently purchased cellphones". |
Racial concerns | Racial concerns |
Mr Blake, who is black, said race may have contributed to the incident. All of the officers were white. | Mr Blake, who is black, said race may have contributed to the incident. All of the officers were white. |
However he said his primary concern was with the amount of force used. | However he said his primary concern was with the amount of force used. |
"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," he told the Daily News. | "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," he told the Daily News. |
The New York Police Department said it was investigating whether the officers used excessive force. | The New York Police Department said it was investigating whether the officers used excessive force. |
The department has recently been involved in a number of high-profile cases involving accusations of police brutality. | The department has recently been involved in a number of high-profile cases involving accusations of police brutality. |
In the most prominent case, a man selling illegal cigarettes died in July 2014 after being subdued by several police officers. Eric Garner's violent arrest was filmed by a bystander. | In the most prominent case, a man selling illegal cigarettes died in July 2014 after being subdued by several police officers. Eric Garner's violent arrest was filmed by a bystander. |
A decision not to criminally charge the officers led to widespread protests across the city. | A decision not to criminally charge the officers led to widespread protests across the city. |
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