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Jul 08“Bicycle? What is that, some kind of hippie truck?”
New York’s thin blue line snapped during a Critical Mass bicycle ride, as 22-year-old officer Patrick Pogan assaulted rider (and Army veteran) Christopher Long, knocking him through the air onto the curb. Pogan then arrested Long on charges of attempted assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Gothamist reports that another cyclist was ticketed for “riding outside the bike lane,” which is actually legal.
This isn’t the first time NYC’s been hostile to the Critical Mass rides; the Times reports that in 2004, over 250 riders were arrested during the Republican National Convention on charges that included “parading without a permit.”
Pogan has been stripped of his badge and gun, and is on desk duty pending a police investigation. Here’s hoping that this fine officer can work his way back up to, say, bicycle cop.
Tagged: civil liberty