NYPD Officers Falsely Arrest NBA Player and US Tennis Star

Even world famous sports stars are not immune from NYPD police misconduct. Last year Atlanta Hawks basketball player Thabo Sefolosha was falsely arrested by officers outside of a Manhattan nightclub, while tennis star James Blake was wrongfully arrested during the US Open when he was mistakenly identified as a suspect in a fraud case.

NBA star Sefolosha was falsely arrested for Disorderly Conduct, Obstruction of Governmental Administration and Resisting Arrest by Police Officer Giacona and Police Officer Caster in April 2015. However, Mr. Sefolosha strenuously denied all charges and was ultimately acquitted at trial. The CCRB subsequently found that the officers had falsely arrested Mr. Sefolosha and had acted discourteously when swearing and threatening to fight the NBA star. In addition, Mr. Sefolosha suffered a broken leg during the incident and intends to bring an excessive force action against the officers and the NYPD.

In September 2015, the NYPD were in the headlines again, this time for falsely arresting tennis star James Blake, who was incorrectly identified as a suspect in a fraud case. Mr. Blake, the former world number 4 tennis player and an Olympian, was standing outside his hotel waiting on transport to the US Open at Flushing Meadows, when he was tackled to the ground and handcuffed behind his back by Police Officer James Frascatore. Mr. Blake was only released when another police officer recognized him and the officers realized they had the wrong person. Both Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and Mayor Bill De Blasio personally contacted Mr. Blake to apologize for the misconduct of Officer Frascatore, who is also the subject of two separate excessive force lawsuits in New York.

If you have been the victim of false arrest, or any form of police misconduct, then you should contact the attorneys at PetersonDelleCave LLP.