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NYPD releases video of James Blake arrest

NEW YORK–Police have released video of the arrest of James Blake. Blake, a former professional tennis player, was captured standing outside the Grand Hyat...
James Blake arrest gif

NEW YORK–Police have released video of the arrest of James Blake.

Blake, a former professional tennis player, was captured standing outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan when the plainclothes officer runs up to him and throws him to the ground to handcuff him.

The NYPD wrote that it obtained the video from Blake’s attorney, and that the investigation is ongoing.

Police said in a statement after the incident that the officer tackled and detained Blake because he thought he was a suspect in an ongoing investigation into fraudulently purchased cell phones, according to PIX11.

Meanwhile, records show the officer who arrested Blake has a history of excessive force allegations.

Two federal civil rights lawsuits name Officer James Frascatore in cases involving men who claim they were beaten, pepper sprayed and falsely arrested.

And an investigation last year by radio station WNYC found the 38-year-old had been the subject of five complaints in a seven-month period in 2013.

A phone number registered to Frascatore wasn’t in service Friday. His union had no comment.

The officer has been placed on desk duty following Blake’s arrest at a Manhattan hotel Wednesday. Blake says he was mishandled.

Two law enforcement officials confirmed Frascatore was the officer who arrested Blake. They weren’t authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

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