Police officer who claimed cyclist ran into him was lying
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A former police officer faces jail after an internet video exposed his bid to prosecute a cycling protester for running into him as a lie.
Patrick Pogan claimed activist Christopher Long steered into him and knocked him down during a demonstration in New York.
But a YouTube video seen by two million people so far has exposed him as a liar.
The video shows Pogan walking over to the cyclist and shoving him to the ground instead.
Mr Long was acquitted of assault charges and received a £40,000 payout from the city’s police.
Now Pogan, who was a recent recruit at the time of the protest two years ago, has been forced to quit his job in disgrace and has been convicted of lying.
The 24-year-old faces four years in jail when he is sentenced later today, although it is likely that he will be handed probation instead.
The case has highlighted the growing role of witness videos in law enforcement, and it spotlighted a history of conflict between the New York Police Department and a group of pro-cycling demonstrators.
Back in July 2008, Pogan had been assigned to keep order and watch out for traffic violations as a bike protest called Critical Mass passed through Times Square.
Participants and police already had a rocky relationship after more than 260 cyclists were arrested during a similar event before the Republican National Convention in 2004.
Pogan said he told Mr Long to stop to get ticketed for such infractions as taking his hands off his handlebars.
But the cyclist kept going, and he testified he never heard any instruction to stop.
Pogan initially reported that Mr Long steered into him and knocked him down.
But a tourist's video showed the officer striding over to the cyclist and shoving him off his bike.
The video has now been watched by more than 2million YouTube viewers.
Pogan testified that he was trying to protect himself and never meant to misrepresent what happened.
Mr Long, who wasn't seriously hurt, was charged with attempted assault and other offences.
The charges were later dropped, and the city paid the real victim $65,000 to settle a lawsuit he filed.
Pogan resigned last year from the police force.
Defence lawyer Stuart London declined to say whether Pogan, whose father is a retired NYPD detective, planned to speak at his sentencing.
Ha ha stupid cop. Seriously, this guy gives police a bad name. Most are generally trying to serve the people in my experience, but there's always that dickhead who has to ruin it.
4 years might seem stiff, but an officer of the law should not be lying under oath, let alone assaulting a citizen.
Have fun in the slammer, buddy... I hear prisoners really like abusive cops.
Ha ha stupid cop. Seriously, this guy gives police a bad name. Most are generally trying to serve the people in my experience, but there's always that dickhead who has to ruin it.
4 years might seem stiff, but an officer of the law should not be lying under oath, let alone assaulting a citizen.
Have fun in the slammer, buddy... I hear prisoners really like abusive cops.
Quote:
The 24-year-old faces four years in jail when he is sentenced later today, although it is likely that he will be handed probation instead.
And those who participate in critical mass give bicyclists a bad name. Most bicyclists are considerate while on the road, but there's always a few hundred that like to clog streets for hours and ruin it.
I tip my hat to the cop... I've been tempted to do exactly what he did, only with my car.
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And those who participate in critical mass give bicyclists a bad name. Most bicyclists are considerate while on the road, but there's always a few hundred that like to clog streets for hours and ruin it.
I tip my hat to the cop... I've been tempted to do exactly what he did, only with my car.
I have yet to see a considerate bicyclist on the road, especially downtown.
Most ignore the basic rules of the road. Am I right or am I right?
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And those who participate in critical mass give bicyclists a bad name. Most bicyclists are considerate while on the road, but there's always a few hundred that like to clog streets for hours and ruin it.
I tip my hat to the cop... I've been tempted to do exactly what he did, only with my car.
I agree completely. I work about 200 yards from where they start critical mass here in SF.....there may be some well-intended folks in the bunch, but the majority are revolting hipsters of the worst kind. Making hard-working folks who drive from the east bay get home at 8 pm on a Friday once a month is a noble way to make a statement. Not to mention those people will have to burn much more gas sitting in traffic than they would otherwise.
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I have yet to see a considerate bicyclist on the road, especially downtown.
Most ignore the basic rules of the road. Am I right or am I right?
There are a fair share that take liberties with the rules of the road (don't confuse me with a bike-enthusiast/supporter). Regardless, they are wholly different than the morons that participate in critical mass. One day there will be a youtube video of someone driving their car into the middle of the critical mass... or reports of someone dying as a result of medical attention being delayed because of these idiots.
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Thank me then. I took out a bike courier going 60kms on 5th ave a few years back. hehe. The guy was alright but my car was toast. He ran a red light and crossed over 3 lanes of traffic when i smoked him. It was his first day on the job and he was from Quebec. When i checked to see if he was ok, i thought he had brain damage because he couldn't really speak. It was because he didn't know any english.
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Bike messengers are not cyclists - they are a plague on Calgary streets IMO.
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I'd have killed to have been this cyclist. There'd be no better feeling in the world, after I'm sure having the entire NYPD, and judicial system against you and believing that pig, having all that stress, and feelings of helplessness and then all of a sudden have this video surfice and have the tables flipped right around. I'm sure no drug on this planet can produce that kind of high!
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I'd have killed to have been this cyclist. There'd be no better feeling in the world, after I'm sure having the entire NYPD, and judicial system against you and believing that pig, having all that stress, and feelings of helplessness and then all of a sudden have this video surfice and have the tables flipped right around. I'm sure no drug on this planet can produce that kind of high!
You would want a video on the internet showing what a bag you are? You think that would be a good thing that would give you some sort if high?
Hopefully the cop is let off with probation because he deserves a medal not any sort of punishment.
Obviously the cop shouldn't have done it..but man, Critical Mass is the most annoying group of people on earth.
I remember witnessing one of their demonstrations here in Vancouver and all it did was wreak havoc on both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. It was nothing more than just being a nuisance for the sake of being a nuisance. These idiots would just ride by with a smug look on their faces while no one could cross the street. It would be awesome to plow through a critical mass protest with a truck.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
You would want a video on the internet showing what a bag you are? You think that would be a good thing that would give you some sort if high?
Hopefully the cop is let off with probation because he deserves a medal not any sort of punishment.
I suppose I don't share the same heated towards cyclists as you do, but it's really not the point I'm getting at. The cop lied, he was then charged with assault on a officer, a rather heavy offence, for which he was innocent for, and IMO he does not deserve, no matter how much cyclists are ANNOYING. Then to fight a fight where it's your word against the officers. Then have video evidence, not only showing that you are clearly innocent, but also show that the officer lied and infact assaulted you, and enough to have him now fired and charged.
Revenge is facking sweet, and that cop deserves what he gets.
And for the record, cyclists piss the hell out of me too.
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I suppose I don't share the same heated towards cyclists as you do, but it's really not the point I'm getting at. The cop lied, he was then charged with assault on a officer, a rather heavy offence, for which he was innocent for, and IMO he does not deserve, no matter how much cyclists are ANNOYING. Then to fight a fight where it's your word against the officers. Then have video evidence, not only showing that you are clearly innocent, but also show that the officer lied and infact assaulted you, and enough to have him now fired and charged.
Revenge is facking sweet, and that cop deserves what he gets.
And for the record, cyclists piss the hell out of me too.
I don't have a problem with Cyclists I hate the losers in Critical Mass. Big difference in my opinion.
I'd have to agree with you there, I don't think critical mass is a very nobale event, and more just a chance for a bunch of hipsters to cause problems. I just can't help but side with the cyclist on this one, and hope the officer is held accountable for his actions.
Police officer who claimed cyclist ran into him was lying
