NYPD Plainclothes Cop Nearly Doors Cyclist, Then Chases And Arrests Her
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: in bed with your mom
Posts: 13,696
Bikes: who cares?
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
NYPD Plainclothes Cop Nearly Doors Cyclist, Then Chases And Arrests Her
NYPD is just letting their imaginations run wild these days....
Full Story: https://gothamist.com/2011/04/06/cop_...then_chase.php
A 28-year-old theater technician on the Upper West Side, tells us she was biking home on Sunday around 6 p.m. when the driver's side door of a double parked black car popped open suddenly on Amsterdam between 76th and 77th Streets. "I had to brake so abruptly that a delivery biker behind me ran into me," says Thede. "I had a verbal exchange with the driver in which I told him to watch what he was doing." Then she rode on, but soon realized that the guy had gotten back into his car and was zooming up behind her. She still had no idea this man was an officer of the law, and the situation devolved from there:
He was driving after me and I was scared. He kept slowing down alongside me, so I cut all the way over to the left lane. But he angrily skidded to a stop in front of me, pulling his car perpendicular to traffic in the left lane. Then I got off my bike and tried to walk my bike onto the sidewalk because I wasn't going to run out into traffic. That's when he grabbed the back of my bike and started pulling it.
He didn't say he was a cop and I thought, 'This guy's crazy, he's attacking me!' I screamed for help and he started restraining my arms and holding me so I couldn't move. People on the street stopped and started asking him what he was doing. I did not hear him say he was a police officer or see any indication he was a police officer, so I was terrified. Then an NYPD squad car arrived and my initial thought was that they were going to save me from this guy; I figured the bystanders had called 911.
But instead of handcuffing her assailant, they slapped the cuffs on Thede, and that's when she realized that it was a policeman who had chased her. "I asked one of the police officers who was telling me to calm down if this guy and the passenger in his car were really cops," Thede recalls. "And she confirmed that they were from the Central Park precinct. I overheard a bystander say, 'I think she ran a red light.' But that's not true. He was hotheaded and couldn't take someone telling him what he did was wrong so he needed to come after me and teach me a lesson."
Thede was charged with reckless operation of a bicycle and disorderly conduct, and spent about an hour at the local precinct station house. During that time, the cop who arrested her, one "Sgt. Santiago" according to the summons, tried to justify the arrest. Thede says, "He told me that when I went around the door of his car to continue, that that was reckless because I was going into traffic. He maintained that I wasn't allowed to swerve around. But I came to a complete stop, exchanged words with him, then rode around his still-opened door. He said he arrested me because he was concerned for his safety."
He was driving after me and I was scared. He kept slowing down alongside me, so I cut all the way over to the left lane. But he angrily skidded to a stop in front of me, pulling his car perpendicular to traffic in the left lane. Then I got off my bike and tried to walk my bike onto the sidewalk because I wasn't going to run out into traffic. That's when he grabbed the back of my bike and started pulling it.
He didn't say he was a cop and I thought, 'This guy's crazy, he's attacking me!' I screamed for help and he started restraining my arms and holding me so I couldn't move. People on the street stopped and started asking him what he was doing. I did not hear him say he was a police officer or see any indication he was a police officer, so I was terrified. Then an NYPD squad car arrived and my initial thought was that they were going to save me from this guy; I figured the bystanders had called 911.
But instead of handcuffing her assailant, they slapped the cuffs on Thede, and that's when she realized that it was a policeman who had chased her. "I asked one of the police officers who was telling me to calm down if this guy and the passenger in his car were really cops," Thede recalls. "And she confirmed that they were from the Central Park precinct. I overheard a bystander say, 'I think she ran a red light.' But that's not true. He was hotheaded and couldn't take someone telling him what he did was wrong so he needed to come after me and teach me a lesson."
Thede was charged with reckless operation of a bicycle and disorderly conduct, and spent about an hour at the local precinct station house. During that time, the cop who arrested her, one "Sgt. Santiago" according to the summons, tried to justify the arrest. Thede says, "He told me that when I went around the door of his car to continue, that that was reckless because I was going into traffic. He maintained that I wasn't allowed to swerve around. But I came to a complete stop, exchanged words with him, then rode around his still-opened door. He said he arrested me because he was concerned for his safety."
#2
Cycle Year Round
Seriously have to wonder just how far NYPD is going to carry their stupidity and arrogance.
Sgt. Santiago - that name sounds familiar.
Sgt. Santiago - that name sounds familiar.
__________________
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
#4
genec
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,532 Times
in
3,158 Posts
Handcuffs after a dooring... Oy vay!
I wonder how often they handcuff motorists for "reckless operation" and "disorderly conduct."
I wonder how often they handcuff motorists for "reckless operation" and "disorderly conduct."
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 115
Bikes: Giant Cypress
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Swerving to avoid an accident isn't reckless operation. Riding in the door zone, arguably, is.
#7
Cycle Year Round
Her real crime was that she called a dumb cop "dumb".
__________________
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 2,896
Bikes: Workcycles FR8, 2016 Jamis Coda Comp, 2008 Surly Long Haul Trucker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
So avoiding an obstruction is illegal in NYC? Traffic would never move otherwise.
Sgt. Santiago must be very proud of himself. Didn't like being told he was in the wrong so He manhandled a female cyclist and called backup. He totally got wrong a number of laws (opening a car door without looking, obstructing a bike lane, cyclist right to not use bike lane when it is unsafe). And possibly never identified himself and detained her.
Sgt. Santiago must be very proud of himself. Didn't like being told he was in the wrong so He manhandled a female cyclist and called backup. He totally got wrong a number of laws (opening a car door without looking, obstructing a bike lane, cyclist right to not use bike lane when it is unsafe). And possibly never identified himself and detained her.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Tampa/St. Pete, Florida
Posts: 9,352
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock Mountain (Stolen); Giant Seek 2 (Stolen); Diamondback Ascent mid 1980 - 1997
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
NYPD is just letting their imaginations run wild these days....
Full Story: https://gothamist.com/2011/04/06/cop_...then_chase.php
Full Story: https://gothamist.com/2011/04/06/cop_...then_chase.php
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 118
Bikes: Terry Ganbit.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
They were doing this thing a few months ago where a cop car was blocking a bike lane in Chelsea, and then they ticketed bikers who went around the cop car, because they weren't riding in the bike lane. It's pretty assinine.
#11
NYC
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1169 Post(s)
Liked 107 Times
in
62 Posts
So avoiding an obstruction is illegal in NYC? Traffic would never move otherwise.
Sgt. Santiago must be very proud of himself. Didn't like being told he was in the wrong so He manhandled a female cyclist and called backup. He totally got wrong a number of laws (opening a car door without looking, obstructing a bike lane, cyclist right to not use bike lane when it is unsafe). And possibly never identified himself and detained her.
Sgt. Santiago must be very proud of himself. Didn't like being told he was in the wrong so He manhandled a female cyclist and called backup. He totally got wrong a number of laws (opening a car door without looking, obstructing a bike lane, cyclist right to not use bike lane when it is unsafe). And possibly never identified himself and detained her.
#13
Banned
As I said previously in another thread, I'm so glad that our local LEO's don't have a vendetta against cyclists since it's tough enough just concerning myself with local motorists.
#14
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,796
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1392 Post(s)
Liked 1,324 Times
in
836 Posts
Can they do that legally? In California we are specifically permitted to leave a bike lane to circumnavigate a hazard or obstruction.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 118
Bikes: Terry Ganbit.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No, they can't legally, but it happened, just like the Central Park 'speed trap' - the posted speed in the area was apparently 35mph (state limit) but cyclists were being ticketed on a downhill for exceeding 25.
#16
NYC
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1169 Post(s)
Liked 107 Times
in
62 Posts
It doesn't really matter if it's legally or not... you still have to PAY for the right to to defend yourself in court (both in time and in scum sucking lawyer fees). Or if you don't have the time and the money, you can just plead guilty and take your ass raping like an adult.
The problem is that innocent or guilty, you are STILL going to suffer the consequences of the actions of the police.
Which is why I repeat at every opportunity: any officer who ever abused his authority, or who ever dared to utter "tell it to the judge" deserves to be immediately be taken into custody, charged with molesting his kids, and given his "fair day in court" to defend himself.
Tell it to the judge indeed.
The problem is that innocent or guilty, you are STILL going to suffer the consequences of the actions of the police.
Which is why I repeat at every opportunity: any officer who ever abused his authority, or who ever dared to utter "tell it to the judge" deserves to be immediately be taken into custody, charged with molesting his kids, and given his "fair day in court" to defend himself.
Tell it to the judge indeed.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: London
Posts: 2,420
Bikes: Baum Romano, Brompton S2, Homemade Bamboo!
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 474 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times
in
129 Posts
In AUS there is a lovely way that you can get back at the cops/prosecutor for going too far - have the magistrate or judge award costs against them. Yes, that's right... the police budget picks up the tab for you and your lawyer. The cops learn real quick when not to bother taking something to court.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 1,501
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This is where video cameras come in handy, if I lived in NY I would buy one of those ten dollar ebay mini cams. I have a larger camera that I use but I would imagine that a larger camera would be seen and made to disappear. A video is worth a thousand words and would help stop the BS attack against cyclists in NYC.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,445
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4233 Post(s)
Liked 2,948 Times
in
1,807 Posts
Crazy, man, just crazy.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Green Valley AZ
Posts: 3,770
Bikes: Trice Q; Volae Century; TT 3.4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I suspect at least two officers will have the opportunity to "tell it" to their supervisors, at least one review board, some annoyed city lawyers and a judge.
#21
stole your bike
It's very hard to keep your cool when people do things that can potentially harm you but what I've learned is to minimize what I say to anyone because you never know if what you say can set some other person off and you end up in a worse situation than if you just rode away and mumbled "figgin idiot" under your breath. That said it's still pretty ridiculous that an officer of the law would go after a cyclist he almost hit with his car door because she expressed her frustration. Things seem to be getting tenser in NYC between cyclists, the general public, and the law where there's this increasing perception that cyclists are these reckless yahoos waiting to crash into anything that moves. Of course scapegoating cyclists just makes it easier for non cyclists to ignore their participation in accidents. Are there reckless cyclists? Indeed there are but if people in this city want to address the issues around traffic safety then we have to look at the actions of reckless motorists, and pedestrians as well.
__________________
I like pie
I like pie
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,033
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What sort of New Yorker doesn't know that you should lie down after a dooring screaming "My neck! Oh, MY NECK!" ???
But, yes, NY cops do seem to suck.
But, yes, NY cops do seem to suck.
#24
Full Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Orangeville, Ontario
Posts: 388
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
here is the law where i live
Ride in a straight line at least one metre away from parked vehicles. Keep to this line even if the vehicles are far apart to avoid continuous swerving.
When riding around parked vehicles, cyclists should watch for motorists and passengers who may open their car door into the cyclists' path.
When riding around parked vehicles, cyclists should watch for motorists and passengers who may open their car door into the cyclists' path.