Retired tennis player, James Blake was tackled to the ground and handcuffed outside mid-town hotel by NYPD police officers who mistakenly identified him as an ID theft suspect. Blake suffered bruises to his left leg and a cut to his left elbow as five plainclothed police officers held him for 15 minutes outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Wednesday.
“It was absolutely crazy and scary,” Blake explained to the Daily News. He also said that, in his mind there’s possibly a race issue involved, but no matter what, there’s no motive for anybody to do that to anybody.
James Blake just taking Care of Business
Blake was on his way to make a business appearance for Time Warner Cable at the 2015 US Open. Apparently, none of the police officers identified themselves, attacking him at around midday. A police source said Blake, whose right eye looked red hours later, was only freed when a former police officer recognized him in cuffs and signaled the arresting police officers.
“That is the former tennis star, James Blake,” the retired NYPD told them.
The former tennis pro said he would like an apology from the department of NYPD, and would appreciate knowing there will be consequences for the police officers involved.
