Remember this video? The one where a New York police officer shoves a biker into the cement (for no apparent reason) during a Critical Mass ride through Times Square in 2008? Regardless of whether or not you ride your bike, it’s pretty hard to forget.
The incident happened roughly two years ago, but this Thursday, the ex-police officer, Patrick Pogan, who shoved the cyclist, Christopher Long, was convicted of lying in the criminal complaint he filed against Long in which he claimed that he was knocked down after Long steered directly into him. Pogan now faces up to four years in prison.
From the New York Times:
Prosecutors had contended that Mr. Pogan should have known that the force he used on Mr. Long presented a substantial risk of injury. None of the jurors, who reached their verdict in the third day of deliberations, were available for comment.
But Mr. Long said in an interview he was pleased with the verdict, in part because it would prevent Mr. Pogan from becoming a police officer again.
“The worst of it is he lied, and fortunately the jury saw it that way and convicted him on those charges,” Mr. Long said. “I don’t think he ever really intended to assault me.”
[Via: The New York Times]
