Former tennis star James Blake discusses his mistaken arrest by the New York City Police Department during an interview, Sept. 12, 2015, in New York. AP
NEW YORK—Two police officers involved in the mistaken arrest of James Blake, including one who allegedly tackled the former professional tennis player, will face an administrative trial after the city’s police watchdog substantiated Blake’s excessive force complaint.
Mina Malik, the executive director of the New York City’s Civilian Complaint Review Board, said in a letter sent to Blake on Tuesday that investigators had substantiated complaints he made after his Sept. 9 arrest alleging that Officer James Frascatore used excessive force and Detective Daniel Herzog abused his authority.
Surveillance video showed Frascatore approaching Blake in front of the Grand Hyatt New York Hotel in Manhattan and grabbing his arm and roughly taking him to the ground. Police said Blake, who had ranked as high as No. 4 in the world before retiring from the ATP Tour after the 2013 U.S. Open, had been mistakenly identified as being part of a cellphone fraud scheme. Frascatore had mistaken Blake for a suspect who looked like him, police said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner William Bratton have both apologized to Blake, who has said he believes Frascatore should be fired.
READ: Former tennis star attacked by NYPD on his way to watch US Open
The officer, who has been with the New York Police Department for about four years, had been named in several civil rights lawsuits alleging excessive force. He was placed on desk duty after the encounter with Blake.
“It is my understanding that these officers now face an administrative trial for their roles in the respective offenses,” Blake said in a statement Wednesday. “I have complete respect for the principle of due process and appreciate the efforts of the CCRB to advance this investigation.”
A departmental trial could end in disciplinary action or termination.
Malik said Blake’s complaint had been resolved in less than 30 days, but she declined to provide further information about the probe, citing state privacy laws.
“Our commitment remains to be a fair and vigilant resource for all people who have complaints about police misconduct, and to judge the cases based on thorough, even-handed investigations which serve the public and officers alike,” she said.
A spokesman for the city’s police union had no immediate comment Wednesday evening. But Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch has said the officers were apprehending someone they “had every reason to believe was an individual who had just committed a crime.”