14 DAY TRIAL // It's amazing the lengths that policemen would go in backing up their claims, even if they are a complete fabrication of their paranoid minds. Even in the face of refutable evidence, they still argue on their behalf. Luckily for a New York Critical Mass participant, the assault that a cop “performed” on him was recorded by a bystander, and the police “officer” was indicted by a court of law.
Critical Mass is a direct action where those who use alternative means of transportation, including bikes, skateboards, roller blades and others, gather and march the streets with disregard to the traffic rules, trying to raise awareness among drivers that they are also participants in traffic and that they should be treated as such.
Apparently, that doesn't fit the agenda of the New York Police Department, as Officer Pogan simply shoved Christopher Long off his bike, as shown in a YouTube clip that went viral in June, when the incident happened. The cop said that the kid had shoved him, and that he tackled him in response. He testified to that end, hoping that he could get away with a lie, and to justify why he had arrested a peaceful protester.
Apparently, a guy in the crowd thought otherwise and published a video clearly showing the ill-raised cop kicking Long off the bike in a very fascist-like fashion, although the biker was clearly intent on going around the police officer.
Now, a court of law has indicted the cop for abuse of public trust, and there is also a possibility that he will be charged with misdemeanor, following his actions. There is also a little thing called perjury, which the US justice system sometimes doesn't take too kindly of.
“My client denies any wrongdoing in this matter. I would have people withhold judgment until all the evidence comes out about the bicyclist’s actions prior to my client taking action,” Pogan's lawyer said on Monday. As if there were any piece of evidence that could show the cop didn't push the kid, when all in attendance saw it. Of course, there is the possibility that the cop was simply annoyed by the whole thing and just wanted to blow off some Steam.