YouTube Indictment: New York Police Officer Charged in Bicyclist Attack

The police officer shown on YouTube striking bicyclist Christopher Long without cause has been indicted. The officer, Patrick Pogan, has been instructed to report to State Supreme Court for the unsealing of the indictment. It is not clear what the specific charges may be: assault or a rumored false statement charge.

The charges stem from a video taken on July 25 during the Critical Mass protest where Pogan knocks down Long.

Officer Pogan charged him with attempted assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. In his police report, Officer Pogan claimed that Long was obstructing vehicular traffic and, after Pogan instructed Long to stop, Long rammed him with his bicycle. Pogan claimed that it caused him fall to the ground and receive cuts on his forearms and that Long resisted arrest.

The video does not support Pogan’s account. However, there is also the question of the other officer who clearly witnessed much of the action but did nothing to intervene or contradict Pogan.

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