News Digest

Former tennis star slammed to ground by police in case of mistaken identity

Former tennis star James Blake was slammed to the ground, handcuffed and detained for about 15 minutes by police who mistook him for a thief. The incident occurred as Blake, formerly the world’s fourth-ranked player, was waiting for a car outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel to take him to the U.S. Open. Blake said that after being shoved to the sidewalk, he was detained by five white plain-clothes city police officers, although he stopped short of calling it a racist incident. The 35-year-old said: “To me it’s as simple as unnecessary police force, no matter what my race is.”

In my mind there’s probably a race factor involved, but no matter what there’s no reason for anybody to do that to anybody.

James Blake

Police said Blake was mistakenly identified by “a co-operating witness” as being involved in a ring dealing in fraudulently purchased cellphones. They added that allegations of excessive force would be investigated by internal affairs. "Once Blake was properly identified and found to have no connection to the investigation, he was released from police custody immediately,“ police said in a statement. Blake, who was scheduled to make a corporate appearance for Time-Warner Cable at the U.S. Open tournament, suffered a cut to his left elbow and bruises to his left leg.

have resources to get to the bottom of this. I have a voice. But what about someone who doesn’t have those resources and doesn’t have a voice?

James Blake