While in NYC for the U.S. Open, former tennis star James Blake was tackled, handcuffed and briefly detained by an under cover NYPD officer (see video below). It was a case of mistaken identity and Blake was soon released. The arresting officer, James Frascatore has been accused of excessive force in several other incidents.
Blake was not physically injured but said: "The emotional scars are going to take a little more time to heal, because I was embarrassed. I was embarrassed to be handcuffed, in the middle of the day, on 42nd Street."
Blake believes the officer should lose his badge for conduct that he feels "was completely unnecessary, whether I was a criminal or not." " He added: "I still don't think the person they were looking for deserved to be treated the way I was treated. So that is the bigger issue right now, correcting that kind of behavior."
Blake hopes to "use my voice to turn this unfortunate incident into a catalyst for change in the relationship between the police and the public they serve."
Can Blake actually make change on the issue of excessive force by police officers? Is he all that or is he all hat (won't be able to turn his words into action).